As Ralph's Italian Restaurant Emerges As A Franchisor, It Is And Will Always Remain A Family Affair

Ralph’s Italian Restaurant has been a family institution since it opened in 1900.

When Francesco and Catherine Dispigno came to America from Italy in 1893, they were looking to achieve the American dream - providing a good life for their family through hard work. Francesco pulled his savings together and opened the first Ralph’s in South Philly in 1900.

The restaurant saw unprecedented success within its first decade and Francesco and Catherine wanted to expand. So the two purchased a boarding house in Philadelphia, where it continued to exceed expectations. The backbone of the restaurant has always been family and the Dispigno’s son, Ralph, wanted to keep those values intact when Francesco passed away in the 1930’s.

Fast-forward to today and the torch of great food and the best service continues to be passed from generation to generation as Ralph’s grandchildren, Jimmy Rubino Jr. and Eddie Rubino, now own and operate the longtime family business.

The restaurant industry can be a tough one to sustain success in, with the average lifespan being about five years. But Ralph’s has stood the test of time, serving customers through some of history’s most remarkable moments including the Great Depression, Prohibition and two World Wars.

In recent years, Ralph’s has received a number of accolades, including seven “Best of Philly” awards from Philadelphia Magazine , ten “Reader’s Choice” awards form The City Paper and consistently receives Zagat’s highest survey scores. While Ralph’s has served quality food for years to local residents, larger-than-life celebrities and Presidents of the United States, the Philadelphia-based restaurant is looking expand its reach after announcing in 2015 that it will start to franchise.

“I think my great-great grandparents would be quite proud of where the brand has come. Each generation has outdone the previous generation with innovation,” Ryan Rubino said. “Now, we are adding a few more pieces to our business, while protecting the legacy of the brand. The great thing about Ralph’s is that the brand is now the combination of many generations of my family. That’s special. And we can’t wait to bring that sense of family to the franchise community.”