Here is the Stefano’s family history:

Born in 1896 in Vallelunga Sicily, Italy, Grandfather Stefano Grizaffi and Grandmother Lucia DiMaggio Grizaffi worked hard preparing good-tasting, Italian recipes for me and my siblings. As a child that emigrated from Sicily to America in the early 1960′s, I longed for my grandparents “Old World Italian” cooking. Prior to landing on U.S. soil, I vowed to learn my Grandparents’ delectable secret Italian recipes that have been so popular in my own family throughout the years.

So, in the summer of 1976 I decided to open my first store, Stefano’s delicatessen and pizzeria in New York. The menu included all of my family’s favorite recipes from Italy. Customers came from New Jersey and from all areas of New York to eat our pizzas, calzones, stromboli and stuffed breads. We fed families, singles, children, workers, parties, weddings, you name it… we fed them. As our family business grew rapidly with each year, we recognized others also enjoyed the same recipes I grew up with in Sicily. It was time to offer my grandparents’ Italian cooking to others on a broader scale for many to enjoy, while keeping the same homemade “Italian Old World” delectable taste.

In 1979 my family and I started manufacturing Stefano’s products for the Northeastern and Southeastern U.S. markets from a small manufacturing facility in Long Island. Each morning the family watched over the preparation of each of our products to ensure these family traditions and offer you the finest products available. It was critical that, as we continued to grow as a company, we maintain our family traditions of authentic quality, delicious family recipes, handstretched dough, stuffed with 100% real cheeses with the freshest meats and vegetables, and attention to producing the best homemade “Italian Old World” tasting product for our customers.

Today, Stefano’s serves most of your U.S. cities. Our manufacturing facilities and headquarters have moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte, being an international hub and banking center, will help us continue to grow into new markets and continue offering the Stefano’s “Italian Old World” quality products to others. This same perfection is duplicated and brought to America, made in our kitchen and served in yours. Now, almost four decades later, I continue to bring them to your family, from mine. Buon Appetito!