Our History

The Great American Hero sandwich shop was developed and owned by Dominick Oliverie, but its beginning goes back to a sub shop called “Long Johns” in Morristown, New Jersey where Dominick worked in the late 60’s and early 70’s. While studying for his masters at Rutgers University in New Jersey and teaching high school math in Parsippany, New Jersey, Dominick noticed that sandwich shops outnumbered burger shops on the east coast.  This was not true in most other parts of the U.S.

In summer of 1974 he left New Jersey to open his own Sub Shop and traveled through 15 cities from Atlanta to San Diego.  He narrowed his choices to Phoenix, Dallas, Memphis, or Atlanta.  He chose to join and partner with his brother, Jerry Oliverie, whom he helped finance a small sandwich shop in downtown Dallas in 1973 called The Great Outdoors.  During the next 6 years, they both opened up 5 shops each - from downtown Dallas to the North Dallas regions. In 1980, the brothers ended their partnership and Dominick re-named his 5 shops “The Great American Hero” and expanded and reorganized his menu to include cold, hot, lite, and veggie Heroes.  He expanded bread choices to 5 types (whole wheat, sourdough white, authentic French, jalapeno cheese, and marble rye) and 3 types of 12 inch tortilla wraps (Tomato Basil, Garlic & Spinach Herbs) .  For an even healthier path, the HERO carries chef, dinner, and fruit salads, plus soups and chili.  The cookies and brownies are made with no trans-fat or hydrogenated oils – not many other sandwich shops can say that!!  The HERO also carries ice cream, frozen yogurt, & sherbet, plus fresh fruit and many other deli items.  We squeeze on lemons and limes fresh each day for our freshly squeezed lemon and limeades. We go to the Farmers Market every other day to insure freshness and quality.

We take much pride in our high marks from the Dallas Health Dept. scores.  Our employees are always friendly and have been with us an average of over 10 years (some over 25 years) – they are our real Heroes!!  It seems more like a family than a place to go to work.  We work with the community on many charitable events, especially with children and public TV.

The HERO has a quick and easy catering menu and is known as “Emergency Corporate Catering Specialist”.  We specialize in Box Lunches, Sandwich Trays, Fruit and Veggie Trays, and Giant Heroes.

WE have won “Best of Dallas” in the sandwich category for 3 years in the 1990’s by The Dallas Observer readers and we are very proud of our name, product, employees, and shops.

Lemmon Ave. Store

Our Mission Statement says it all:

               
Since 1974 The GREAT AMERICAN HERO and its employees have been committed to:

1. Uncompromising personal service with prompt and friendly attention.
2. Great tasting, healthy and nutritious foods served in a clean environment.
3. Each product being treated like a gift to you and each customer being treated like a guest in our home.
   
   

   Remember: “You are what you eat!”   Eat a Hero, Be a Hero.