{{For|the Italian painter|Giovanni Antonio Amato}}{{Short description|Italian businessperson}} {{use mdy dates|date=May 2026}}
{{Infobox chef | name = Giovanni Amato | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = 4 March 1875 | birth_place = Naples, Italy | death_date ={{death date and age|1959|2|2|1875|3|4|df=yes}} | death_place =Cumberland, Maine, U.S. | death_cause = | education = | home_town = | spouse = Michelina Amato (m. 1896–1959; his death) |children=| style = | ratings = | restaurants = | prevrests ={{plainlist| * Amato's (1902) }} | television = <!-- {{plainlist| * FIRST * SECOND }} --> | awards = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | module = }}
'''Giovanni Amato''' (4 March 1875 – 2 February 1959) was an Italian businessman. He established Amato's, originally a bakery, which is still in operation today. He is believed to have created the Maine Italian sandwich.
== Early life == Amato was born in 1875 in Naples, Italy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Troy R. |date=2022-04-19 |title=Here are Portland's oldest surviving food makers from 1768 to today |url=https://www.bangordailynews.com/2022/04/19/news/portland/here-are-portlands-oldest-surviving-food-makers-from-1768-to-today-joam40zk0w/ |access-date=2026-05-29 |website=Bangor Daily News |language=en-US}}</ref> He emigrated to the United States around the turn of the 20th century.
== Career == [[File:Amato’s, India Street.jpg|thumb|The rebuilt Amato's on India Street in Portland]] In 1902, he opened Amato's Bakery, a foodcart on the working waterfront in the Old Port of Portland, Maine.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.amatos.com/ |access-date=2026-05-29 |website=test: Amato’s |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-02-27 |title=A Maine Italian isn’t just beloved – it’s a rite of passage on a roll |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2025/02/27/a-maine-italian-isnt-just-beloved-its-a-rite-of-passage-on-a-roll/ |access-date=2026-05-29 |website=The Portland Press Herald |language=en-US}}</ref> He was asked by the dockworkers to split the loan loaves of bread he was selling and fill them with meats, cheeses, tomatoes, peppers, pickles, onion and olives.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stern |first=Jane |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/500_Things_to_Eat_Before_It_s_Too_Late/uha0mHZ-N8oC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Giovanni+Amato+portland+maine&pg=PA58&printsec=frontcover |title=500 Things to Eat Before It's Too Late: And the Very Best Places to Eat Them |last2=Stern |first2=Michael |date=2009 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |isbn=978-0-547-05907-5 |pages=58 |language=en}}</ref> He later opened a store on India Street,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Witkowski |first=Robert |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/100_Things_to_Do_in_Portland_ME_Before_Y/HXWMDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Giovanni+Amato+portland+maine&pg=PA22&printsec=frontcover |title=100 Things to Do in Portland, ME Before You Die, Second Edition |date=2019-03-11 |publisher=Reedy Press LLC |isbn=978-1-68106-160-3 |pages=22 |language=en}}</ref> which is still operating today, albeit in a new building. He created the Maine Italian sandwich in 1899.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lovell |first=John |date=2021-01-12 |title=Ode to the Amato's Maine Italian Sandwich |url=https://newengland.com/today/living/new-england-environment/italian-sandwich-amatos/ |access-date=2021-06-15 |magazine=Yankee Magazine |publisher=Yankee Publishing |location=Dublin, New Hampshire |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-21 |title=The Amato's Maine Italian Sandwich {{!}} A Portland Classic |url=https://newengland.com/food/italian-sandwich-amatos/ |access-date=2026-05-29 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Richman |first=Adam |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/America_the_Edible/6BA26EjQ7IUC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Giovanni+Amato+portland+maine&pg=PA191&printsec=frontcover |title=America the Edible: A Hungry History, from Sea to Dining Sea |date=2011-09-27 |publisher=Harmony/Rodale/Convergent |isbn=978-1-60961-196-5 |pages=191 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Reid |date=2024-01-11 |title=Throwback Thursday Photo: Amato's 1960 & 2024 |url=https://www.portlandoldport.com/throwback-thursday-photo-amatos-1960-2024/ |access-date=2026-05-29 |website=Portland Old Port |language=en-US}}</ref>
Amato's was run by the Amato family until 1972, when they sold it to compatriot Dominic Reali.<ref name=":0" />
== Personal life == In 1896, Amato married Michelina,<ref name=":1" /> with whom he had at least eleven children. The family lived at 109 Newbury Street.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Directory_of_Portland_Including_the_City/p-cCAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Giovanni+Amato+portland+maine&pg=PA292&printsec=frontcover |title=Directory of Portland Including the City of South Portland and the Town of Cape Elizabeth |date=1914 |publisher=Portland Directory Company |pages=292 |language=en}}</ref> In 1924, Michelina owned property at 67 and 69–71 India Street and at 120–128 Newbury Street.<ref>{{Cite web |title=69-71 India Street, Portland, 1924 |url=https://www.mainememory.net/record/58581/image/59347 |access-date=2026-05-29 |website=Maine Memory Network |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=67 India Street, Portland, 1924 |url=https://www.mainememory.net/record/58579/image/59324 |access-date=2026-05-29 |website=Maine Memory Network |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=120-128 Newbury Street, Portland, 1924 |url=https://www.mainememory.net/record/58580/image/59349 |access-date=2026-05-29 |website=Maine Memory Network |language=en}}</ref>
== Death == Amato died in February 1959, aged 83. He was interred in Calvary Cemetery in South Portland. His widow was buried beside him upon her death nine months later.
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Amato, Giovanni}} Category:1875 births Category:1959 deaths Category:Businesspeople from Naples Category:Businesspeople from Portland, Maine