ST. LOUIS – The location may have changed over the years, but the signature sandwich at Amighetti’s is still being served today—it’s all thanks to a one-of-a-kind, Marge Amighetti, who died Monday at the age of 97.
“In 1969, Mrs. Amighetti decided to transition from a bread bakery to a sandwich shop,” said Anthony Favazza, co-owner of Amighetti’s. “She worked every day for eight months on sandwich toppings and sauces. She called them little dishes; they were small bowls she bought at Hannecke Hardware, which is where we are standing, in the latest location on the Hill.”
Marjorie Eileen Amighetti, or Marge as she was known to many and “feisty” to others, convinced her husband to make a signature sandwich.
The result was a sandwich that is still being made at three locations, as well as a friendship between Anthony and Olivia Favazza.
“She was very interested in the business and success of the business,” Favazza said. “She would grill me on how many slices of roast beef in a pound and the price of this was a pound. Obviously, the inflation, she can’t believe how expensive everything was. If I got a big order, I’d walk her through that, and she’d get really excited. She’d say, ‘I must have done something right.’”
“Trust in God, believe in yourself, and dare to dream” is Marge’s motto.
“You really see how big her impact was and how big a sandwich can make on this whole community and people states away reaching out with memories of having this amazing sandwich 50 years ago,” said Olivia Favazza, co-owner of Amighetti’s. “But it lasts with them.”
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
