Aerial view of D'Elia's Grinders in Riverside with crowds gathered along the sidewalks for a previous community celebration. (Courtesy of D'Elia's Grinders)
D'Elia's Grinders will celebrate 70 years in Riverside on Saturday with throwback pricing and a limited anniversary menu at its University Avenue location.
The restaurant, founded in 1955 by the D'Elia and Perrone families, will offer whole cold grinders for 65 cents each during the daylong celebration. Customers are limited to two discounted grinders per person and must purchase a drink with each sandwich.
"At a time when many small businesses are lucky to last 15-20 years, it is a testament to our wonderfully loyal customers that D'Elia's is able to celebrate 70 years doing business in Riverside," said Joe Perrone in a statement. "This community and its people have helped us grow and continue to be a Riverside institution."
The anniversary menu features 11 classic grinder varieties including ham, turkey, pastrami, roast beef and tuna salad, prepared with the original recipe of meat, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, salt, pepper and oil. Regular menu modifications like extra meat and cheese will be available at standard prices.
Now operated by third-generation family members, D'Elia's has maintained its Connecticut-style grinder tradition since opening on what was then 8th Street. The restaurant's crusty bread, baked in-house daily, has remained unchanged despite evolving local tastes.
"As a third-generation owner of D'Elia's Grinders, I'm deeply grateful for the incredible support this community has shown us over the past 70 years," a family representative said. "What started as a small family sandwich shop has grown into a Riverside tradition because of your loyalty, your stories, and your love for our grinders."
The restaurant expects significant crowds based on its 60th anniversary celebration, which drew lines around the block and early-morning customers beginning at 4 a.m. This year's event runs during regular business hours at the original location at 2093 University Ave.
The University Avenue corridor has transformed dramatically since D'Elia's opened, when the street was still called 8th Street. While chain restaurants and fast-casual concepts have proliferated throughout Riverside, the family has maintained its no-frills approach and Connecticut-style crusty bread that third-generation owner Brian Perrone once described as creating a "love or hate" reaction among customers.
Regular customers have developed fierce loyalty to specific grinder combinations over the decades. The simple preparation style and quality ingredients have earned D'Elia's recognition as a "Real Riversider" rite of passage among longtime residents, distinguishing it from newer sandwich shops in the area.
Parking may be limited due to construction fencing around the adjacent city lot. Restaurant management is coordinating with Riverside officials for solutions and encourages carpooling or early arrival.
The celebration represents a milestone for independent restaurants in an era when most small businesses close within two decades. D'Elia's has weathered economic changes, shifting demographics and increased competition while maintaining its original approach to sandwich preparation.
The family hopes to continue operating for another 30 years to reach the century mark, according to promotional materials for the event. "Success depends on continued community support," they said.
