Thanksgiving dinner in a sandwich? Delaware figured that out back in 1976, and nobody’s had to wait until November since.
Whole turkeys roast overnight, then get pulled by hand the next morning.
Forget saving Thanksgiving leftovers. This shop puts the whole holiday between two slices of bread and somehow makes Tuesday feel like a feast.
It started with a simple idea and grew into a national favorite. Even a famous Delawarean became a longtime fan. Clearly, good turkey travels beyond the Thanksgiving table.
And the original counter still serves that famous sub on an ordinary Tuesday. No holiday calendar, no elaborate dinner plans.
Just all the best parts of Thanksgiving stuffed into bread. The only thing missing is someone asking you to pass the gravy.
Thanksgiving Lives On A Sub Roll Here All Year Long
Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mayo walk into a sub roll. That’s not a joke setup, it’s The Bobbie at Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop.
This is the sandwich the Wilmington original built its name on. Fans often call it Thanksgiving on a roll, and the nickname fits a little too well.
You can order it hot or cold. Warm brings out that cozy holiday vibe, while cold feels like the best leftover sandwich of late November.
The magic is in the balance. Rich turkey and savory stuffing need something bright, so the cranberry sauce does that job. The mayo pulls everything together so it doesn’t slide apart.
Plenty of restaurants roll out a holiday sandwich for a few weeks each fall. Here, it never leaves the menu. That means a random March lunch can taste exactly like the fourth Thursday of November.
Here’s a practical tip for first-timers. Order The Bobbie before anything else, even if a cheesesteak is calling your name. It’s the reason this shop became famous, and skipping it on a first visit feels like going to the beach and never touching the water.
Two Siblings And A Grandfather Started This Whole Thing
Back in 1976, Lois and Alan Margolet opened a small sandwich shop in Wilmington’s Little Italy neighborhood. They named it for their grandfather, Philip Capriotti.
Their plan sounded simple. Make unique sandwiches with homemade ingredients, especially for people who truly loved turkey.
That shop is the same one standing in Delaware today. It’s the original Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop, the spot where the whole story began.
There’s something sweet about a family business carrying a grandparent’s name. It turns every sandwich wrapper into a small tribute, whether customers notice or not.
The brother-and-sister team didn’t chase shortcuts. Roasting turkeys overnight was part of the plan from the beginning, not a fancy update added later.
Little Italy also gives the backstory a nice local flavor. This Wilmington neighborhood has deep Italian roots, which makes it a fitting birthplace for a shop named after an Italian grandfather.
When you grab lunch here, you’re eating at the first link of a very long chain. Nearly fifty years of history started on this block. That’s a pretty good bonus for the price of a sandwich, and you don’t even need a museum ticket.
The Turkey Works The Night Shift So Your Lunch Doesn’t Have To
Most sandwich shops open a package of sliced deli meat. Capriotti’s roasts whole turkeys instead, and they’ve done it from the very start.
The birds slow-roast overnight. Then the staff pulls the meat by hand the next morning, getting it ready for the day’s sandwiches.
That routine shapes everything on the turkey side of the menu. The meat comes off the bone in real pieces, not thin, uniform slices. It’s the difference between a holiday dinner and a lunchbox shortcut.
Think about the effort for a second. Every night, turkeys go in. Every morning, somebody pulls them apart.
Repeat that for decades, and you get a whole company built on one stubborn kitchen habit.
The founders wanted sandwiches for real turkey lovers, and this process was how they delivered. The approach set them apart early on.
Want to taste the turkey on its own terms? The Homemade Turkey sub skips the holiday trimmings and lets the roasted meat stand front and center. It’s a smart second order once The Bobbie has had its turn.
Your taste buds get a clear read on what all that overnight roasting actually does.
You Can Find The Original Right On Union Street
Mark this one in your map app: 510 N Union St, Wilmington, DE 19805. That’s the home of the very first Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop.
It’s a casual counter-service deli. You order, they build your sub, and you head out with something warm or cold in hand.
Hours are friendly for lunch and dinner cravings. The shop opens at 11 a.m. daily, with closing times varying by day.
Sundays wrap up a bit earlier, at 6 p.m. Plan your weekend Bobbie run with that in mind, or you’ll be staring at a locked door.
Seating is limited at this original location, so think of it mainly as a grab-and-go stop. Carryout and delivery make the most sense here.
That setup actually works in your favor. A sandwich this full is great for a park bench, an office desk, or your own couch.
Ordering ahead through the Capriotti’s app or website can smooth things out too. You skip the waiting and walk right up to collect your food. It’s a handy move during a busy weekday lunch hour downtown.
Cheesesteak Fans Won’t Leave Empty-Handed Either
Turkey gets the headlines, but the menu goes way past poultry. Capriotti’s also turns out cheesesteaks, Italian subs, salads, soups, and sides.
The cheesesteak lineup includes an American Wagyu Cheesesteak.
There’s also an Impossible Cheesesteak made with plant-based meat, although it contains dairy cheese.
On the cold side, the Classic Italian is a dependable pick. The Capastrami brings pastrami into the mix for a deli-style change of pace.
Gluten-free rolls are available too. That’s a helpful detail for groups where not everyone can handle regular bread.
Kids’ meals round things out, so families can order without a fuss. Little eaters don’t have to tackle a full-size sub.
Here’s a smart strategy for a group. Grab a Bobbie, a cheesesteak, and an Italian, then cut everything in half and share. You’ll cover the whole personality of the menu in one meal.
Got a sweet tooth? The Brookie, a cookie and brownie mashup, makes a fun finish. It’s the kind of dessert that settles arguments, since nobody has to pick between the two.
Just be prepared to split it, because someone will ask.
A President Has Been Ordering From This Counter For Decades
Joe Biden is one of Delaware’s best-known Capriotti’s fans. He has said he went to the Union Street shop for more than 40 years.
That’s a long relationship with a sandwich. Plenty of marriages haven’t lasted that long.
His loyalty showed up in a big way in 2013. He was the first customer at the grand opening of a Capriotti’s in Washington, D.C.
He walked out with The Bobbie and several other sandwiches. Apparently even a vice president knows not to show up to the office empty-handed.
The moment made headlines and gave the sandwich a fresh round of national attention. A homegrown Delaware favorite suddenly had a very public cheerleader.
It also says something about the original shop specifically. Out of every Capriotti’s location, his long-standing connection traces back to this one on Union Street.
You don’t need a motorcade to order the same sub, of course. The counter treats everyone the same, which is part of the charm. Ordering here means standing in a spot with a little political history, then walking off with lunch.
Not a bad deal for a Tuesday afternoon.
America Once Crowned This Sub The Greatest Sandwich Around
In 2009, AOL readers voted The Bobbie the Greatest Sandwich in America. Not the greatest turkey sandwich, mind you. The greatest sandwich, period.
Think about the competition for that title. Lobster rolls, Italian beefs, po’boys, and cheesesteaks all had a shot.
A sub that started in a small Wilmington shop still came out on top. That’s a big win for a little state.
The honor helped put the sandwich on the national radar. People who had never been to Delaware suddenly wanted to know what the fuss was about.
Over the years, Capriotti’s collected other regional and national food recognition too. Still, that greatest-sandwich crown is the one that sticks in people’s heads.
Part of the appeal is how easy it is to understand. Everyone knows what Thanksgiving dinner tastes like. Putting it on a roll is a simple idea, and simple ideas tend to travel well.
Visiting the original location lets you taste the award winner at its birthplace. It’s a little like seeing a famous band play in their old hometown bar. Same song, but it hits a bit differently right where it all started.
One Little Shop Grew Into A Coast-To-Coast Name
A second shop opened in New Castle, Delaware, in 1988. By 1991, the company started franchising, and the sandwich began to travel.
Today there are more than 175 Capriotti’s locations in over 30 states. That’s a lot of turkeys roasting every night.
The overnight roasting tradition followed the brand everywhere. Locations still cook whole turkeys in-house, keeping that original Wilmington method alive far from home.
Growth like that can water down a brand. Here, the core idea stayed put, and the turkey process is the proof.
Still, there’s only one first shop. Fans who know the history often make a point of visiting Union Street when they’re in town.
If you’ve tried Capriotti’s in another state, the original makes a fun comparison stop. You get to taste the sandwich where it was born, instead of where it moved later.
And if you’ve never had one at all, starting here is a great flex. Next time a friend from out of state brags about their local Capriotti’s, you can mention you went to the very first one. Casually, of course.
Very casually.