Moe's Italian Sandwiches

Moe's Italian Sandwiches is an American submarine-sandwich brand associated with Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Its origins trace to Phil "Moe" Pagano, who left his work as a cheese salesman and acquired a Portsmouth sandwich shop from Moe Winer in May 1959. Pagano built the business around a deliberately focused product concept: a single Italian sandwich prepared according to a family recipe attributed to his mother. The original formulation combined mild salami, provolone, thinly sliced onions and peppers, tomatoes, olives, and a modest amount of olive oil in a submarine-sandwich roll. The narrow initial menu was part of the brand's identity. Rather than presenting a broad range of sandwiches, the shop became known for one distinctive Italian-style offering, allowing the Pagano family to emphasize consistency and recognition. The business operated in downtown Portsmouth, first on State Street and later at a Daniel Street location acquired in 1959. The Daniel Street shop remains associated with the Pagano family and is located a short distance from the original site. Moe's later moved beyond a single company-operated shop. In 1993, Phil Pagano began offering franchises, creating a route for independent operators to open Moe's restaurants under the brand. The Pagano family's franchising activity is conducted through MadMoe Corporation. Franchise locations have been established across New England, with the greatest concentration reported in southern New Hampshire. This regional expansion gives Moe's a substantially broader footprint than its original Portsmouth location while retaining a strong local and family-business identity. Although the signature Italian sandwich remains central to the brand, the menu has expanded over time. Later offerings have included turkey, ham, tuna, and other sandwich choices, broadening the appeal beyond the original salami-and-provolone combination. The brand's positioning therefore combines a recognizable house specialty with the practical menu breadth expected from a neighborhood sandwich shop. Phil "Moe" Pagano died on May 16, 2006, at the age of 90. The family continued operating the Portsmouth shop and supporting the franchise business after his death. Available reference material does not establish a precise current store count, current executive roster, or a corporate website. Moe's should be understood as a regional restaurant and franchise brand rather than as a nationally listed chain.

Moe's Italian Sandwiches developed from a Portsmouth, New Hampshire, sandwich shop founded by Phil "Moe" Pagano. Before entering the restaurant business, Pagano worked as a cheese salesman. In May 1959, he purchased a sandwich shop on Daniel Street from Moe Winer. The business had previously operated on State Street, and the later Daniel Street site became the enduring home of the Pagano family's Portsmouth operation. Pagano differentiated the shop through a highly focused product strategy. He initially sold only one sandwich, based on a recipe handed down by his mother. The sandwich used mild salami, provolone, onions, peppers, tomatoes, olives, olive oil, and a submarine roll. Its limited ingredient profile and consistent preparation gave the shop a clearly identifiable specialty and helped establish the Moe's name locally. The brand remained closely tied to Portsmouth and the Pagano family for decades. Its principal shop continued operating near the original location, preserving a connection to the business's local history. The menu eventually became broader, adding turkey, ham, tuna, and other choices alongside the signature Italian sandwich. This expansion allowed Moe's to serve customers seeking alternatives while maintaining the original sandwich as the brand's defining product. A major structural change came in 1993, when Phil Pagano began selling franchises. Through the Pagano family's MadMoe Corporation, Moe's Italian Sandwiches moved from being primarily a single local shop to a regional franchising business. Franchise restaurants were placed throughout New England, with most reported locations concentrated in southern New Hampshire. The model extended the brand's reach without severing its association with its Portsmouth origin. Pagano died on May 16, 2006, at the age of 90. The Portsmouth restaurant continued under family operation, and the franchise business remained associated with the Pagano family and MadMoe Corporation. The available reference material does not provide a definitive current store count, detailed ownership filings, or a complete list of present-day executives. Accordingly, the documented history is strongest on the brand's founding, signature sandwich, family continuity, and New England franchise expansion.

• 2006

  Founder Phil Pagano dies

  [1]Moe's Italian Sandwichesen.wikipedia.org

  Phil "Moe" Pagano died on May 16, 2006, at the age of 90.

• 1993

  Franchising begins

  [1]Moe's Italian Sandwichesen.wikipedia.org

  Phil Pagano began selling franchises, allowing Moe's restaurants to expand beyond Portsmouth into communities across New England.

• 1959

  Phil Pagano acquires the Portsmouth sandwich shop

  [1]Moe's Italian Sandwichesen.wikipedia.org

  Phil "Moe" Pagano purchased a sandwich shop on Daniel Street in Portsmouth from Moe Winer in May 1959, establishing the business associated with Moe's Italian Sandwiches.

A family-associated, regional New England sandwich brand centered on a distinctive Italian submarine sandwich and supported by franchised neighborhood locations.

• Italian submarine sandwich · 1959

  Moe's Italian Sandwich

  The brand's signature sandwich is based on a family recipe associated with Phil Pagano's mother. It combines mild salami and provolone with thinly sliced onions and peppers, tomatoes, olives, and a small amount of olive oil, served on a submarine-sandwich roll. It was originally the shop's sole sandwich offering and remains the product most closely associated with the Moe's identity.

• Deli-style sandwiches

  Turkey, ham, and tuna sandwiches

  As the business developed, Moe's expanded its menu beyond the original Italian sandwich. Turkey, ham, tuna, and several other sandwich choices gave customers a broader selection while complementing the core salami-and-provolone specialty.

• 1993

  Launch of the franchise programStrategy

  Background

  After operating as a Portsmouth-centered family sandwich business, Phil Pagano sought to extend the brand beyond its original shop.

  Action taken

  Pagano began selling Moe's Italian Sandwiches franchises through the family-associated business later identified as MadMoe Corporation.

  Aftermath

  Franchise locations were established throughout New England, with the largest concentration reported in southern New Hampshire.

  Source

• Expansion of the menu beyond the signature sandwichOther

  Background

  The original shop was known for selling a single Italian sandwich based on a family recipe.

  Action taken

  The business later added turkey, ham, tuna, and other sandwich choices.

  Aftermath

  The broader menu supplemented the signature Italian sandwich and allowed the shop to serve customers seeking additional deli-style options.

  Source

1. 1Moe's Italian Sandwichesen.wikipedia.org