Vince Perone was born in Hackensack, NJ to James and Jennie "Mama" Perone (pictured). His parents migrated from Salerno, Italy in the early 1900's. At a young age Vince started in a local butcher shop where he developed a passion for food while learning about meat processing.
Vince was a highly recruited, all-star guard that moved to Greenville, SC to play football for Furman University. While at Furman he played multiple positions on both offense and defense. He was co-captain his Senior year and led a 7-2 Furman team to wins over ranked teams West Virginia and Florida State. Vince was named to the All-State and All-Southern Conference teams. After graduating he was pursued by the Washington Redskins to join the NFL, but Vince, after marrying his high-school sweetheart in 1951, chose to stay in Greenville with his fast-growing family.
(pictured is Vince with the Saunders Trophy)
By 1954, Vince was married, the father of two boys, and broke. To make ends meet, he moved forward with his passion for food and began making Italian po-boys in the basement of his house, alongside his wife, and sold them to Furman students at the dorms and canteen. Word spread fast about his delicious sandwiches and he started having businesses in downtown Greenville reach out to him wanting to stock his sandwiches.
(pictured is Joyce and Vince with their sons Steve and Vince)
As their family grew with three children (daughter, Sheri, born in 1958), the early mornings of sandwich-making at 4:30 a.m. became increasingly difficult. In 1956, he decided to lease a store at the corner of Laurens Road and South Pleasantburg Drive, opening Vince Perone’s Delicatessen. Lacking chairs and tables, his patrons would often sit on the pickle barrels to enjoy their sandwiches in-house. All of his deli meats were brought in from New York and New Jersey at this time and it was also at this location where he introduced pastrami to Greenville.
In 1961, while also working as an assistant football coach at Furman, Vince opened a full-service Italian restaurant at the intersection of Antrim Drive and Pleasantburg Road. The community quickly embraced this traditional Italian eatery, complete with red-checked tablecloths, chianti bottles, and a hearty red sauce, and the restaurant became a local favorite. The business became even more of a family operation when his brother-in-law, Emil Fritz, and his mother, "Mama" Perone, joined the business. This is where Mama Perone's lasagna, spaghetti sauce, and cheesecake became famous and beloved by all.
In 1966, Vince expanded his restaurant and introduced a new formal dining area called "The Forum." The overall footprint of the restaurant went from 6,000 sq ft to over 20,000 sq ft. This new space offered an upscale menu with gourmet dishes, such as rack of lamb and lobster, which were new to Greenville’s dining scene. At a time when the city had limited dining and entertainment options, The Forum became the go-to spot for a memorable night out. Vince brought in live music and dancing, featuring performances by prominent acts like Glenn Miller's Band, Count Basie’s Orchestra, and Frank Sinatra, Jr. As the big band era waned, the venue hosted groups like the Four Freshmen and the Dreamers. The Forum grew so popular that in 1980, presidential candidate Ronald Reagan chose it to celebrate his birthday.
By 1978, both of Vince's sons, Steve and Vince Jr. (pictured), had joined the family business. In the years that followed, they expanded further, opening new locations in Asheville, NC, Haywood Mall, Downtown Greenville, and Spartanburg, SC. As the business continued to thrive, Vince Perone’s became synonymous with Italian food for many locals.
In 1985, as Greenville began to grow more refined, Perone's underwent another transformation. He closed The Forum, redesigned the space, and relaunched the restaurant as the exclusive, membership-based City Club. Within its first year, approximately 1,500 members joined. By then, Perone had established himself as a prominent community figure and a dedicated supporter of Furman University. He was honored as the "Small Businessman of the Year" by the Chamber of Commerce.
The City Club remained in operation until 1996 when Vince, at the age of 67, chose to—sort of—retire. He sold the restaurant and entered into a partnership with Bi-Lo grocery stores to supply his pasta salads. Over time, around 300 Bi-Lo stores began offering them, in addition to several other foods including frozen pizzas under the Perone brand, and Vince took on the role of quality control consultant. After the restaurant was sold, Vince's sons remained in the food industry pursuing careers in management and various consultant roles.
Vince Perone passed away in 2003 from a rare blood disease.
In 2013, Vince's son, Steve, decided to bottle the family's sauce recipe and share it with others. Within just two years, he had the sauce available in 25 local stores across the Greenville area. Expanding the product line, he introduced olive oils, seasonings, and lasagnas. The Perone name, still synonymous with premium Italian foods, naturally boosted his sales and helped establish the brand even further.
As the business continues to grow, Steve's son, Michael, joins the team to help enhance production and drive further growth, bringing a fresh vision and energy to the family legacy. Having been deeply inspired by his grandfather, with whom he was incredibly close, Michael is excited to continue building on the Perone family’s history. Looking ahead, Michael envisions building a business not only for himself but also for his two sons, Vinny and Rocky, hoping they will one day join if the opportunity aligns with their own paths. And with future plans in mind, Greenville might just be seeing something new from the Perones in the near future.
The Perone family’s commitment to quality, tradition, and community continues to guide our journey as we look forward to creating new experiences and opportunities for the generations to come.
