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Big ‘Moe’: The story of a sandwich
Posted: August 16, 2006
For almost 50 years, Moe’s Italian Sandwiches has been a staple of Portsmouth. Residents love them, kids have grown up on them, and tourists are drawn in to sample a bite.
“Everybody likes a Moe’s,” Chris Bistany, Moe’s employee, said. But what makes them so special?
It all began in 1959 when Phil “Moe” Pagano bought a sandwich shop and decided to sell only one type of sandwich, which he based on a recipe handed down from his mother. The soft roll was filled perfectly with mild cooked salami and provolone cheese, pickles, tomatoes, onions, black olives, green peppers and oil. Customers say this special sandwich cannot be found anywhere else.
Although “Moe” died in May at the age of 90, the business continues to be family-owned and the original Italian hasn’t changed since the beginning and continues to be the shop’s signature and most popular sandwich.
Each sandwich is made to cater to the eater’s preference. While some may add or subtract the veggies, others are unwilling to stray from the original. One customer who has visited the shop for five years said that’s just the way she feels. “Just the regular. That’s a Moe’s.”
These Italian sandwiches are called famous for a reason. Customers come from all over and have included America’s Funniest Home Videos host and Lee resident Tom Bergeron (who visits about once a year), Governor John Lynch, actor Bill Irwin (who co-starred with Jim Carrey in “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”), and President George W. Bush.
Year after year, customers keep coming back for more and that doesn’t show any signs of changing.
“There’s something about it. If you come here once, you want more,” Bistany said. “If they started with Moe’s, they’ll end with Moe’s.”
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