Pittsburgh’s Primanti Bros. opens first Md. restaurant

Primanti Bros., a Pittsburgh favorite, just opened its first restaurant location in Maryland at Valley Mall in Hagerstown. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Primanti Bros., a Pittsburgh favorite, just opened its first restaurant location in Maryland at Valley Mall in Hagerstown. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
This mural at Primanti Bros. includes famous faces from Pittsburgh as well as the D.C. region. Who do you spot? (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
This mural at Primanti Bros. includes famous faces from Pittsburgh as well as the D.C. region. Who do you spot? (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The sandwich menu at Primanti Bros. Each massive creation comes on thick Italian bread with fries, coleslaw, tomatoes and provolone cheese. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The sandwich menu at Primanti Bros. Each massive creation comes on thick Italian bread with fries, coleslaw, tomatoes and provolone cheese. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
A server happily shows off a famous Primanti Bros. sandwich about to be delivered to a hungry customer. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
A server happily shows off a famous Primanti Bros. sandwich about to be delivered to a hungry customer. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
(WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Two sandwiches spilling over with fries and coleslaw. Good luck finishing the whole thing in one sitting. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Two sandwiches spilling over with fries and coleslaw. Good luck finishing the whole thing in one sitting. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The bar is stocked with plenty of beer on tap with an emphasis on craft brews. There's also a flat top grill at one end of the bar where you can watch your food order being filled. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The bar is stocked with plenty of beer on tap with an emphasis on craft brews. There’s also a flat top grill at one end of the bar where you can watch your food order being filled. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Directions (in case you need any): Squish down that bread, and open wide. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Directions (in case you need any): Squish down that bread, and open wide. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Sandwiches aren't the only attraction. Primanti Bros. also sells beer, burgers, chili, pizza, salad and wings. Oh, and there are desserts too. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Sandwiches aren’t the only attraction. Primanti Bros. also sells beer, burgers, chili, pizza, salad and wings. Oh, and there are desserts too. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
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Primanti Bros., a Pittsburgh favorite, just opened its first restaurant location in Maryland at Valley Mall in Hagerstown. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
This mural at Primanti Bros. includes famous faces from Pittsburgh as well as the D.C. region. Who do you spot? (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The sandwich menu at Primanti Bros. Each massive creation comes on thick Italian bread with fries, coleslaw, tomatoes and provolone cheese. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
A server happily shows off a famous Primanti Bros. sandwich about to be delivered to a hungry customer. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Two sandwiches spilling over with fries and coleslaw. Good luck finishing the whole thing in one sitting. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The bar is stocked with plenty of beer on tap with an emphasis on craft brews. There's also a flat top grill at one end of the bar where you can watch your food order being filled. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Directions (in case you need any): Squish down that bread, and open wide. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Sandwiches aren't the only attraction. Primanti Bros. also sells beer, burgers, chili, pizza, salad and wings. Oh, and there are desserts too. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)

WASHINGTON — Just like in “Dahn-tahn” Pittsburgh, “Yinzers” can now get a freshly made Primanti Bros. sandwich in Maryland.

The restaurant and bar’s first Maryland location opened Friday at Valley Mall in Hagerstown.

The brand began in 1933 as a small sandwich cart, and the brothers eventually opened a storefront.

Primanti Bros. sandwiches are famous because what many people consider side dishes are stuffed inside the sandwiches with your choice of meat.

“We pile it high with our house-made coleslaw, hand punched fries, melted provolone cheese and fresh baked Italian bread that we get delivered daily,” says Danny Hardy, the so-called Head Coach for Primanti Bros. Hagerstown.

Why include the fries in the sandwich?

“It came from necessity.  It was really for the truckers in and out of downtown.  They wanted something they could grab and go,” Hardy says.

For those who may be tempted to ask for the coleslaw or fries on the side, Hardy recommends leaving them on.

“Keep it the way it is. There’s a reason for it.”

His favorite sandwich is a Capicola and Egg, but there is a wide array of choices.

In addition to those overstuffed sandwiches, Primanti Bros. also serves burgers, chili, pizza, salads, wings and desserts.

The bar has 24 taps, and if you sit on one end you can watch your food being made on a flat top grill.

“We want to be the local bar, the local restaurant for the community to go to.  That’s why you see some Maryland beers.  But we also have our I. C. Light on to pay our homage to Pittsburgh,” Hardy says.

They’ve taken a similar approach when it comes to decorating the place.

“To the dismay of our Pittsburgh fans, there’s a few other teams you’ll spot on the walls.  But we still have that strong Pittsburgh presence,” says Hardy.

A huge mural along one wall includes images of famous Steelers and Pirates, as well as Ravens, Redskins, Nationals and Capitals players.

We also spotted Edgar Allan Poe and part of the Maryland flag.

The Hagerstown restaurant is Primanti Bros. 29th location.

“There is a big Pittsburgh following around here, so it’s just a great area to open,” says Hardy.

When asked if Primanti Bros. will open locations closer to D.C., he answered this way: “We’ll leave that for the guys above me, but I would hope so.  Being a Maryland guy myself, I would love to see more of the Primanti wealth spread.”

Michelle Basch

Michelle Basch is a reporter turned morning anchor at WTOP News.

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