The Brothers Behind the Bite: Who Were Pat and Harry Olivieri?

Long before the neon lights of South Philadelphia’s 9th Street and Passyunk Avenue became a global tourist destination, they were simply the backdrop for two hardworking brothers trying to make a living. Pasquale “Pat” and Harry Michael Olivieri are legendary figures in Philadelphia lore, credited with inventing the city’s most famous culinary export: the cheesesteak.

While their sandwich achieved international fame, the story of the men behind it is a classic tale of Italian-American immigrant hustle, ingenuity, and a little bit of luck.

The Early Hustle

Born into an Italian-American family in Philadelphia, Pat (born in 1907) and Harry (born in 1916) were blue-collar workers accustomed to a grueling schedule. Before achieving culinary fame, both brothers took on side jobs to make ends meet; Harry worked as a carpenter, and Pat crafted sleds.

In 1930, the brothers decided to pool their resources and open a modest hot dog and pretzel stand near the Italian Market. The stall was located at the intersection of 9th Street, Wharton Street, and Passyunk Avenue—the exact spot where their famed restaurant stands today.

The 10-Cent Invention

The invention of the cheesesteak in 1933 was born entirely out of lunchtime fatigue. Tired of eating his own hot dogs every day, Pat handed Harry some cash and sent him to a nearby butcher for some inexpensive beef.

When Harry returned, they thinly sliced the beef, threw it on their hot dog griddle, and cooked it up with chopped onions. Just as the brothers were about to eat their impromptu meal on Italian rolls, a regular customer—a local cab driver—pulled up to the stand. Catching the irresistible scent of sizzling beef and onions, the cabbie asked if he could have that instead of a hot dog.

Pat sold him the sandwich for a dime (about $2.50 in today’s money). The cab driver was so impressed that he urged the brothers to stop selling hot dogs and focus entirely on their new “steak sandwich”. The word spread rapidly among the city’s cab drivers, and a Philadelphia icon was born.

Note: The original invention did not actually include cheese. Provolone wasn’t added to the sandwich until the 1940s by a manager named “Cocky” Joe Lorenza, and Cheez Whiz didn’t become a staple until the 1960s.

Building an Empire

By 1940, the brothers had saved enough money from their bustling street cart to rent the commercial space directly behind it, officially opening the brick-and-mortar Pat’s King of Steaks.

The success of the restaurant demanded relentless work. For the next several decades, Pat and Harry worked 15 to 18 hours a day to keep the 24-hour operation running smoothly. Even during World War II, Harry split his time between working at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and managing the restaurant.

Their Later Years and Legacy

Pat Olivieri passed away in the early 1970s, leaving Harry and the extended family to carry the torch. In 1972, Harry suffered a heart attack that forced him to step back from the grueling day-to-day management of the restaurant. However, he remained a fixture at Pat’s King of Steaks, visiting the shop almost daily to meet, greet, and chat with customers until his health declined.

Harry Olivieri passed away from heart failure on July 20, 2006, at the age of 90.

Today, the business remains a family affair. The original Pat’s King of Steaks is owned and operated by Frank Olivieri Jr., Harry’s grandson, ensuring that the legacy of two hardworking brothers continues to feed thousands of hungry locals and tourists every single day.