Our Story
Where it all began…
Sam’s Italian Foods has been serving up delicious Italian food since 1939, when Sam Bennett started making salami Italians in a small shop in Auburn. Sam’s goal was to serve the best Italians with the freshest ingredients, using the motto that we still strive for today: “Courtesy, Quality & Service”.
Sam’s business quickly outgrew his first shop. In 1940, he moved to Main Street in Lewiston where the shop still stands. In 1946, Sam’s opened our own bakery. In 1950, we started serving pizza. And in 1982, we opened our second location in Auburn. Since then, our shops have become a part of 13 neighborhoods across Maine.
Our History
1939
Founder Sam Bennett sold his “Italian Sandwiches” out of a small shop on Minot Avenue in Auburn, near the intersection of Elm Street. His wife and sister-in-law helped run the business.
1940
Sam’s moved to our present location on 286 Main St. in Lewiston. Our current billboard is still in the same place that our original one stood in the 1950s!
1946
The Sam’s Bakery was started on Oak Street to serve the growing needs of Sam’s.
1950
Pizza was added to the menu.
1956
The Bakery became well known and started selling products to outside establishments.
1958
Sam’s replaced the wooden building on Main Street with a new and larger brick one at the present location to house both the sandwich shop and bakery operation.
1973
Spaghetti was added to the menu as well as hot meatball sandwiches.
1982
Sam’s opened on Center Street, Auburn.
1983
Sam’s opened on Lisbon Street, Lewiston.
1984
The Sam’s Bakery became its own entity with Sam’s daughter Mary Curtis and her husband Gary as proprietors.
1986
Sam’s opened stores on Main Street in Freeport and Minot Avenue in Auburn.
1988
The Main Street Lewiston store expanded to add seating for 52. Sam’s opened another location on Sabattus Street in Lewiston.
1990
Sam’s opened at Cook’s Corner in Brunswick.
1993
Sam’s opened in Rumford; expanded seating in 1996.
2003
The business added a full-function catering operation.
2005
Sam’s opened in Lisbon Falls.
2006
Sam’s opened in Augusta.
2009
Sam’s opened in Waterville.
2011
Sam’s opened at the Mobil Mart on outer Lisbon Street in Lewiston.
2014
The Sam’s Italian Sandwich Shoppes celebrate their 75th Anniversary at all 13 locations.
2021
On November 1st, Sam’s Italian Foods becomes employee-owned. Workers now own 15 percent of the business. Read more.
Read more about TeamShares here.
Credit + Timeline Content: Sun Journal Photo, Sam’s Italian 75th Anniversary Supplement, October 16, 2014. Last Photo: Taylor Gonzalez.
Sam’s Italian Food Tradition
Serving Maine Since 1939