Ricci’s Hoagies, a longtime Philadelphia sandwich institution, opened its first out-of-state shop on Wednesday in Charlotte’s NoDa arts district, and the debut turned into a full-on sidewalk spectacle. The line outside the Centro NoDa storefront stretched around the block as a DJ spun tracks on the curb and staff cranked out classic Italian hoagies for hungry customers. The vibe landed somewhere between a soft opening and a neighborhood block party, with locals and visitors chatting it up while orders steadily flowed through the pickup window.
Owners and franchise partners worked the crowd at the 719 E. 36th St. location, celebrating the milestone with families and longtime fans, according to the Charlotte Observer. Michael Pagliarella, whose family runs Ricci’s, joined Charlotte franchisee Todd Garofalo at the opening, and the paper reported that Pagliarella’s father even bumped into a friend he had not seen in 25 years. While the DJ kept music going on the sidewalk, staff moved quickly to keep the line from stalling.
From South Philly to NoDa
Ricci’s roots go back to South Philadelphia in 1920, and the shop built its name on hand-sliced meats, sharp provolone and a no-frills approach to hoagies, according to Original Ricci’s Hoagies. The brand also calls out its use of Liscio’s rolls as a key part of that old-school formula. The Charlotte expansion into the Queen City was first reported last fall when WBTV covered the deal at Centro NoDa.
What To Expect
The NoDa shop keeps extended hours, opening Sundays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and serves classic hoagies, chicken cutlet sandwiches and party trays, according to the Charlotte Observer. The location is listed on local ordering platforms with its full menu available for pickup and delivery, with a setup geared toward fast counter service to handle busy rushes.
Ricci’s Charlotte appears on ordering platforms with a menu and pickup listing tied to the Centro NoDa address, and the point-of-sale listing confirms 719 East 36th Street as the storefront. Toast shows the NoDa location’s menu and pickup options. For nearby residents, the arrival of the century-old Philly favorite effectively adds a new late-day lunch and dinner stop to the arts district lineup.
