We hear a lot of startup stories but stories of legacy businesses that outlive their founders aren’t one that we come by all the time. GO Global is proud to tell the story of Filippo’s Italian Specialties, a local food business that has been around for 60 years and a staple in the Wheaton community of Maryland. Filippo’s is proof that behind every successful business is a powerful story.
Filippo’s Italian Specialties – Our Story
Our story began in 1955 with a simple idea and purpose – to create a space that brings people together around good food and a positive, home-like environment. More than 60 years later, this idea is still very much alive when you walk through our doors. To us you are not just a customer, you are family.
Owner Leo Filippo came to the Wheaton area of Maryland as an immigrant from Sicily, Italy. He had the vision of creating an unconventional food establishment that provides a community-like experience. He got his start at a pizzeria where he learned the ins and out of running a successful food business. In 1989 he found the opportunity of making his vision a reality by becoming a partner with Frank Marchone of Marchone Place, a local deli run by his uncle which had become a staple in the Wheaton community. In November 2013, Leo Filippo became the sole owner of business. Since then, Marchone Place has been renamed the business Filippo's Italian Specialties and even with tremendous growth, Leo and his team have been able to maintain the family legacy of food and community.
At Filippo’s we believe local delis like ours remain as strong pillars in the community. We do this by providing a thriving space for connection, a family-like experience and obviously great food. From the beginning, Filippo’s set out to be a different kind of food establishment - our core asset is not our food but instead it is the people we serve. Today, more than 60 years since our doors first opened, we are proud to keep serving you - our customers, our family. And with every sub, cookie or cannoli, we will continue to do just that.