Hog Island Steaks

Where does the name “hoagie” come from? The story of Hog Island

During the World War I era, the land on which the Philadelphia Airport now sits was known as Hog Island. This marshy, boggy piece of land was home to the largest shipyard in the world, employing approximately 34,000 people. The workers’ wives frequently packed hearty lunches for their husbands—hollowed breads stuffed generously with meats, cheeses, vegetables…whatever happened to be available.

The employees of Hog Island eventually became known as “hoggies;” thus, the sandwiches they carried adopted the same name. Over the years, the word “hoggie” evolved to “hoagie”—the name that nearly everyone in the Delaware Valley uses to refer to these tasty sandwiches. Here at Hog Island, we are bringing back the original concept of the “hoggie:” Fresh-baked rolls stuffed with your favorite meats, cheeses, and vegetables—everything a “hoggie” and cheesesteak were intended to be!