Petrini's facts for kids

Petrini's was a famous chain of grocery stores. It started in San Francisco and was a family business for many years. People knew Petrini's for having the best meat in the San Francisco area. The way they sold their products still inspires other grocers today.

The Story of Petrini's Markets

In the early 1900s, some grocery stores were like big department stores. Different people owned and ran different sections inside the same store. Frank Petrini, the founder of Petrini's, started this way. He managed the meat section of Lick Market in 1935.

Within a few years, Frank Petrini opened three more of his own markets. The biggest Petrini's grocery store opened in 1956. It was on a spot still called Petrini Plaza in San Francisco. At that time, San Francisco already had four other large grocery stores.

The original Petrini's store at 2001 McAllister Street was taken down in 1996. An apartment complex called The Village at Petrini Place was built there. It even had a Lucky Supermarket with underground parking. Another Petrini's store in Stonestown kept operating until 1996. This was even though the Petrini family sold the whole chain in 1989. A Canadian company called Provigo Inc. bought the stores. Before it was Petrini's, the Stonestown location was called QFI (Quality Food Incorporated) in the 1970s. It became Petrini's in 1982. Even before QFI, it was known as the Stonestown Market.

What Made Petrini's Special?

Petrini's markets were known as the best places in Northern California for special, high-quality meats and food. The butchers who worked there were very skilled. The business also took good care of its employees.

Frank Petrini, the founder, thought of all his employees like family. He encouraged them to treat each other that way too. He would greet many regular customers with a hug and a kiss. Frank Petrini even chose the cows for his stores himself. He would often say no to cows that other markets used for their meat.

Petrini's was the first large grocery store chain to focus on selling high-quality, special food. Frank Petrini created a new way of doing business. Other grocers in the United States, Japan, Australia, and Europe have followed his example. Petrini's also had some of the best wine, coffee beans, and European food in San Francisco.

Frank Petrini (third from right) and the butchers of one of the first stores in the 1950s

The Founder: Frank Petrini

Frank Petrini, who started Petrini's market, was an Italian immigrant. He came from a town called Lammari in Lucca. He started working in Italy when he was just 12 years old. By age 14, he was trained to be a butcher.

In 1922, he traveled to the United States by himself. He was the first person in his family to come to America. He arrived in San Francisco with only $5 in his pocket. Right away, he started working as a butcher. He worked long hours, from 6 AM to 7 PM every day. Frank Petrini originally wanted to go to college. But a priest, who was also the director of his English school, gave him advice. The priest told him to focus on becoming the best butcher in San Francisco.

A Legacy of Good Food

The advertisements for Petrini's market were famous. They often included inspiring quotes. These quotes also appeared on the walls inside his stores. Because of these quotes, his friends nicknamed him "philosopher." These quotes were later put into a book. It was published in September 1992 and was called "The Proverbs of Frank Petrini: Food for Thought."