About us

The very first Panino’s Italian restaurant was opened in downtown Colorado Springs by Everetta Lou and Tony Frasca in 1974 and was originally named Pizza Plus. In fact, two very popular items on the Panino’s menu, the Big T pizza, and the Lou’s Best pizza, are named after the founders. In 1982 the second Pizza Plus was opened on 8th Street in the Broadmoor area.

By 1991 the original Pizza Plus restaurants had grown by leaps and bounds and were renamed Panino's Restaurant. The name changed was driven by the immense popularity of the Panino sandwich. As the reputation of the restaurants continued to grow, other family members began to open new stores. Now there are several Panino’s restaurants across the United States, including three in Colorado Springs, one location in Fort Collins, and one location in the Twin Cities of Minnesota selling the Famous Panino Sandwich.

Although the Panino’s family of restaurants has grown considerably since the early days in Colorado Springs, we are proud to say that all of our locations are still owned and operated by members of the Frasca family.

The Fort Collins Panino’s is run by John and Marie Beck, two former CSU Rams who always dreamed of owning their restaurant. Marie is Evey Lou and Tony’s granddaughter, and she has been refilling drinks and taking care of customers for as long as she can remember. John and Marie have both been cooking with their relatives since they were very young, and are thrilled to be carrying on the Panino’s tradition while raising a family in Fort Collins. For over thirty-five years, Panino’s has been one of the area’s favorite Italian restaurants, and we are proud to still be serving the simple, wholesome food that your family craves.