Omaha Exploration

Exploring everything from the origin stories of longtime Omaha businesses and buildings to new developments shaping the city’s future. If it’s part of Omaha’s story, past or present, it’s fair game.

Gone But Not Forgotten

Gone But Not Forgotten: Alfred Orsi’s Ethnic Sandwich Shop

Omaha Exploration

1438 S 13th Street, Alfonso Orsi, Alfred Orsi, Boho Flats, Ethnic Sandwich Shop, Karen Orsi, Little Bohemia, Little Italy, Orsi’s Italian Bakery and Pizza

October 28, 2023

I was hoping to do something a little more in depth before the Ethnic Sandwich Shop in Little Bohemia was demolished. Clearly that didn’t happen so we’ll have to settle for this little tribute to one of south Omaha’s favorite sandwich shops.

The outside of the Ethnic Sandwich Shop.

Built at 1438 South 13th Street as a Dairy Queen around 1956, it became the Ethnic Sandwich Shop in 1977. The tiny shop was founded by Alfred and Karen Orsi. Alfred was the son of Alfonso Orsi, who founded Orsi’s Italian Bakery. Popular with the lunchtime crowd, it was not open on weekends or into the evenings. The shop offered various sandwiches such as the French dip, Polish sausage, Philly, corned beef, hot beef, meatball, and cold deli sandwiches, as well as spaghetti and lasagna. It offered no indoor seating but did have a few tables outside, although most customers preferred to eat in the comfort of their car or truck if not taking their order back to the office.