In 1980, a young U.S. Marine named Steven Iliescu opened a 1,300-square-foot, twelve-

stool shop on the corner of Bustleton Avenue and St. Vincent Street in NortheastPhiladelphia. He'd served his country, then worked as an auto mechanic — two trades that teach the same lesson: do it right, every time, no shortcuts.

He named the shop "Prince" as a direct, confident answer to the self-proclaimed "King" of Philly cheesesteaks. Not arrogance — just Philly directness: come taste ours, then decide for yourself.

Forty-five years later, that same discipline runs every location: rib-eye sliced fresh, never chopped; rolls baked daily and never substituted; a culture where staff are treated like family and customers are remembered by name. It's why Steve's has earned two Philadelphia Magazine "Best Cheesesteak" awards, a Food Network feature, and a Guinness World Record for the longest cheesesteak ever made.