On Thursday, Feb. 3, I took a half day from work to get immunization shots before my trip to Thailand at the end of the month. When lunch rolled around, I did what I do every time I’m home from work during the week—I went to Mangialardo’s. The sub shop is only open from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Their Italian sub, known as the “‘G’ man,” is one of the best I’ve had in my life. After picking up my sub, I realized their shop would also make a great photo story. Here is the story of Mangialardo’s in photos.
Mangialardo's, a family-run sub shop and deli, has been part of the Southeast Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C. for 57 years. Four generations of the Mangialardo family have worked in the store at 1317 Pennsylvania Ave., Southeast. (Photo by Jon Hussey) Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011
Tony Mangialardo (left), whose grandfather opened the store, greets customers as they enter and works at the cash register. His daughter, Rachel (right), talks with her dad while taking a break from stocking the refrigerator. (Photo by Jon Hussey) Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011
Rachel Mangialardo (left) and her sister Rebekah Mangialardo (right), 19, take orders from two customers. (Photo by Jon Hussey) Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011
Mangialardo's, which was formerly a deli and grocery store, now focuses primarily on sub sandwiches. Their subs have a loyal following in the city, particularly, the "'G' man." (Photo by Jon Hussey) Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011
A photo of Tony Mangialardo's grandmother, Anna, grandfather, Antonio, and father, Joe, hangs next to the phone at the back of the shop. The photo includes a family member the Mangialardo's would rather not name (left) and have covered with a smiley face. Antonio Mangialardo opened the store in 1954. (Photo by Jon Hussey) Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011
Bill Gross, 64, who grew up just blocks from Mangialardo's on 545 Kentucky Avenue, has been coming to the shop since his grandmother brought him in as a child. Behind him, patches from area fire and police departments cover the wall where a staircase used to lead to the grocery section of the store. The store stopped selling groceries 15 years ago. (Photo by Jon Hussey) Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011
Rachel Mangialardo waits for two "'G' man" subs to be prepared. The older Mangialardo sister works full time in the store answering phones and taking walk-in orders. She hopes to get married in the next month when her fiance, who is in the Army, is able to make it back to the United States. (Photo by Jon Hussey) Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011
A "'G' man" sub, which consists of mortadella, ham, salami, and provolone, is being assembled by Myra, who has worked at Mangialardo's for a year and did not want her last name used. (Photo by Jon Hussey) Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011
The Mangialardo's still carry a small assortment of Italian specialties like hot and sweet peppers. The peppers are a key ingredient in a Mangialardo's sub, which can be ordered on a soft or hard roll and with sweet or hot peppers. (Photo by Jon Hussey) Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011
Myra completes a "'G' man" sub. The sub, which also has a larger version, the "Big 'G,'" is so popular that the Mangialardos are considering creating "'G' Fan" T-shirts. (Photo by Jon Hussey) Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011
Rachel Mangialardo jokes with a customer as they wait for their fourth, and final, sub to be prepared. Behind her are large jars of sweet and banana peppers. The sweet and banana peppers are mixed together to make the hot peppers for subs. (Photo by Jon Hussey) Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011
Rachel Mangialardo (left) and Rebekah Mangialardo (right), smile from behind the store counter as they see a regular customer come in with his child. The family has a relationship with a lot of its regular customers, many of which are firefighters, police, and politicians. (Photo by Jon Hussey) Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011
Tony Mangialardo (left), says goodbye to Kris Newsom (right), a regular customer who says he is moving back to San Diego, Calif. in the next week. Newsom says he hopes to be able to come into the shop one more time before he leaves. (Photo by Jon Hussey) Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011
Tony Mangialardo closes the gate outside the shop at 2:55 p.m., five minutes before the store closes. Mangialardo's is open from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays only. Tony says that he remembers not seeing his own father that much when he was little because the store was open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. He didn't want that to be the case for his kids. (Photo by Jon Hussey) Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011
Great pictures. You take very personal pictures. It’s both candid and detailed. This pizzeria looks very family oriented.