A Philly cheesesteak legend will soon be serving its iconic sandwiches outside of the City of Brotherly Love for the first time. The venerable Pat’s King of Steaks is opening its second location in State College this winter, reports local media outlet Philadelphia Magazine.
Details of the new Pat’s, ranging from a specific opening date to its precise location, remain shrouded in mystery. A Pat’s representative responded to What Now Philadelphia’s inquiries by simply reaffirming that a restaurant will be opening in Penn State, and suggesting that further information will be available in about a month.
Despite its long history and intense popularity in Philadelphia, the State College location will only be Pat’s second storefront. Owner Frank Olivieri is quick to establish that while this new Pat’s may lead to further expansion, it does not mark the beginning of franchising. He states “If it works out well, we plan on opening throughout the country…but not franchises. By opening these the way we are, it allows me to keep an eye on the shops more than I could if they were franchises. Franchises come with all sorts of rules and regulations. And you lose some control.”
Cheesesteaks are more than simply a sandwich for Olivieri. The Philly-favorite is part of his heritage. Olivieri’s grandfather Harry and great-uncle Pat invented the sandwich in the 1930s. Pat opened the original location at 1237 East Passyunk-where it remains to this day-as a hot dog stand. The restaurant has remained in the family through its entire life and is a central part of Philadelphia’s history.
The cheesesteak is, of course, the star of Pat’s menu. The establishment offers a variety of preparation options, allowing guests to select their cheese, whether or not they want onions, and if they would like a customized steak like the mushroom steak or the pizza steak. Customers can also choose from a fish cake or a hot dog, with a side of fries.
