Roughly 70 percent of this little grocery’s business comes from one thing: sausage.
Orange-tinted, fennel-spiced, medium-hot sausage that local restaurants proudly put on their menus.
The store has stayed in the same building since day one. Two brothers from a small town in Calabria started it after working on the railroad.
Their family still runs it four generations later.
I love that a place in Iowa can feel this rooted.
The shelves hold imported pasta, San Marzano tomatoes, bulk olives, and house-made sauces.
The deli in back builds grinders that have become a true Des Moines classic.
I believe some shops simply sell groceries, while others feed a whole neighborhood’s memory. This one clearly belongs in the second group.
So what keeps people coming back after more than a century?
Two Teenage Brothers And A Railroad Paycheck Built All Of This
Frank was 21 and Louie was just 17 when they left San Morello, a Calabrian town in southern Italy, in 1903. They landed in Des Moines and took jobs with the Great Western Railway.
Graziano Brothers opened in 1912, and the plan behind it was pretty clever. Louie ran the new grocery while Frank kept his railroad job for steady income.
That arrangement kept both families fed while the store found its footing. Honestly, it’s the kind of teamwork most siblings can’t manage over a shared bathroom.
The business never wandered off to a fancier address. It has stayed in the same building on South Union Street since the very beginning.
Around it, the neighborhood grew into Des Moines’ own Little Italy, shaped largely by Calabrian families. The market became a place where those families could find the flavors of home.
I like knowing that the store you visit today is the same one those brothers opened. Very few businesses in Iowa can say that after more than a century.
Today Frances Graziano leads the company as the fourth generation. She’s Francesco’s granddaughter and Luigi’s great niece, which keeps the story firmly in the family.
That Orange Sausage Is The Reason Half Of Des Moines Owns A Skillet
Orange sausage sounds unusual until you learn where the color comes from. Paprika and other dried red peppers give it that bold hue and a medium-hot kick.
A fennel-based spice blend ties everything together. It’s been the best-seller at Graziano Brothers for more than a hundred years, which is a pretty strong track record.
The family turned it into a wholesale business in 1948. That move spread the sausage’s reputation far beyond South Union Street.
Today, sausage wholesaling makes up about 70 percent of the company’s business. Many local restaurants proudly use it, so you may have eaten it without realizing.
Variety is part of the fun here. Beyond the classic, you’ll find sweet, garlic-flavored, extra-hot, and Andouille-style versions.
You can buy it in bulk, links, or patties. Bulk works great crumbled into pasta sauce or scattered over a homemade pizza.
Links are made for grilling nights, and patties make breakfast feel like a small celebration. My advice is simple.
Grab a couple of styles and run your own taste test at home.
Fair warning, though. Plain grocery-store sausage may start feeling a little boring afterward.
Order A Grinder And Learn A Little Local Lingo
Des Moines has its own signature sandwich, and it starts with this family’s sausage. The grinder is a city classic with deep roots in the old Italian neighborhood.
Here’s what goes into the version at Graziano Brothers. Fennel sausage meets tomato sauce, basil, oregano, and garlic and onion powders.
Toppings usually include banana peppers or giardiniera for a tangy bite. Everything rides on a hoagie bun from local bakeries like South Union, La Mie, or Fancy and Rotella’s.
I love that the bread comes from neighbors too. It turns one sandwich into a small tour of the city’s baking scene.
The deli at the back of the store started serving lunch in the last decade. That decision came from Frances Graziano, and it clearly paid off.
Now the counter has become a lunch stop on its own. Grinders sit at the heart of that popularity.
My tip is to decide on peppers before you reach the counter. Banana peppers bring mild tang, while giardiniera adds crunch and more personality.
Either way, grab extra napkins. Sauce and sausage this generous don’t exactly behave politely.
A Sandwich Called The Knuckle Packs Quite A Punch
Cold-cut fans, this one has your name on it. The Knuckle Sandwich stacks coppa, hot soppressata, and pepperoni into one bold lineup.
Hot pepper cheese adds even more heat. Sliced pepperoncini and Italian dressing finish it with a bright, tangy edge.
The name fits, honestly. It doesn’t tiptoe around flavor, and spice lovers will appreciate that.
The deli menu keeps going from there. You’ll also find Italian Beef, Spicy Meatball Sandwiches, Italian Chop Sandwiches, and Italian Melts.
Then there’s The Goodfella, a sausage patty sandwich with a name worthy of a movie poster. Somebody at this counter clearly enjoys naming things.
Picking just one can feel like a real test of willpower. Bringing a friend and splitting two sandwiches is a smart workaround.
Meatballs are also sold in the frozen case for easy dinners later. That’s a handy way to take the deli flavor home without cooking from scratch.
I think the menu shows how one family’s ingredients can stretch in so many directions. Sausage, cured meats, and cheeses all get their moment in a bun.
Just be ready to make a tough choice.
Your Car Becomes The Dining Room, And That’s Part Of The Charm
No tables wait for you here, inside or outside. Every sandwich leaves the counter as a takeout order.
That means plenty of lunches get eaten right in parked cars. A dashboard picnic might not sound glamorous, but the food makes up for it.
Planning ahead helps a lot. Keep napkins, wet wipes, and maybe a towel for your lap in the car.
Saucy sandwiches like the grinder can get messy fast. Cold-cut options travel a bit better if you’re heading back to the office.
Timing matters too. Graziano Brothers is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday hours run from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the store closes on Sundays. Arriving well before closing gives you the best shot at a full menu.
Another smart move is shopping while your order gets made. The grocery aisles are right there, so you can stock up on dinner supplies.
I like that setup because one stop handles lunch and tomorrow’s meal. Efficient and delicious is a great combination.
Nearby parks also make nice spots for an outdoor bite on sunny Iowa days.
Every Shelf In Here Is Basically A Pasta Night Waiting To Happen
Space is tight, but the shelves make every inch count. Imported goods from Italy fill the small store from top to bottom.
Dry pastas come in all kinds of shapes. San Marzano tomatoes sit ready for anyone serious about homemade sauce.
The cheese selection leans heavily on Italian imports. Cured meats like pancetta and coppicola round out the antipasto possibilities.
Bulk olives are another fun find. Scooping your own feels far more satisfying than opening a tiny jar.
So how do you shop a place this packed? Start with a meal in mind, then let the shelves fill in the details.
Planning carbonara? Pancetta and a good imported cheese are a strong start.
Building a snack board? Cured meats, olives, and cheese will do most of the work.
I believe stores like this make home cooking feel less like a chore. Good ingredients do a lot of the heavy lifting.
Graziano Brothers has been helping Des Moines kitchens this way for generations. Walking out with only what’s on your list might be the hardest challenge here.
Bring a sturdy bag, just in case.
House-Made Sauces And Seasonings Do The Hard Work For You
Salt-free seasoning might be the most underrated item in the building. The family’s Italian seasoning blend comes in several sizes and skips added salt.
That makes it easy to control flavor in your own cooking. Sprinkle it on roasted vegetables, chicken, or garlic bread.
The house Italian dressing has fans well beyond the store. You can even find it in local grocery stores around town.
Pasta sauces carry the family name too. Options include a Calabrian pasta sauce and a sauce with sausage already mixed in.
That Calabrian connection matters. It ties straight back to the brothers’ hometown of San Morello in southern Italy.
Pizza sauce is on the shelves as well. Pair it with the store’s pizza dough and you’ve got a homemade pizza night ready.
Add some crumbled sausage on top and things get even better. Kids usually love building their own pies, so it’s a fun family project.
I like that these products let you borrow a little of the family’s kitchen. Not everyone has hours to simmer sauce on a Sunday.
These jars are the next best thing.
Save Room Because Cannoli And Biscotti Are Watching You
Dessert and dinner live close together in this store. Fresh breads, biscotti, and cannoli all show up among the shelves.
Cannoli make an easy treat to share after a sandwich lunch. Biscotti travel well and pair nicely with a morning coffee.
The freezer section deserves attention too. Frozen ravioli and tortellini are popular picks for busy weeknights.
Boil a batch, warm a jar of house sauce, and dinner is basically done. Toss in some sausage if you want it heartier.
Fresh bread rounds out the meal. Tear off a piece to scoop up any leftover sauce on the plate.
Pizza dough is another freezer-friendly favorite to grab. It’s a shortcut that still feels homemade when the kitchen smells like baking crust.
Here’s a practical tip. Bring a cooler bag if you’re driving far, so frozen items stay cold on the trip home.
I can’t imagine leaving without at least one sweet thing. Graziano Brothers makes that temptation pretty tough to resist.
Maybe buy two cannoli. One for the drive home, one for later, if it lasts that long.
Catch The Sausage Mobile Or Grab Groceries Without Leaving Home
Yes, there’s a food truck, and it’s called the Sausage Mobile. Graziano Brothers takes its famous grinders on the road to different locations.
The truck menu also includes Italian beef, spicy meatball sandwiches, and pasta salad. Italian lemon ice makes a cool finish on a hot Iowa afternoon.
Watch the family’s social pages to see where it’s parked. Catching it feels a bit like spotting a delicious celebrity.
The home base sits at 1601 S Union St, Des Moines, IA 50315. It’s on the south side, across the river from Principal Park.
Can’t make the trip? An online store offers pickup and local delivery.
Shipping is available for folks who live outside the area.
Deals pop up too. Look for Mangia Monday specials and gift card incentives when you spend a certain amount.
I love that a store from 1912 keeps finding new ways to reach people. Trucks, online orders, and weekly specials all extend that old neighborhood welcome.
Still, nothing beats seeing the original shelves in person. After more than a century, this South Union Street landmark remains well worth the stop.
