If you’ve lived in the Inland Empire for any length of time, you know the deal. You’re driving down Waterman Avenue or cruising through the north end of town, and you see it. That familiar signage. Two Guys from Italy. But then, you see it again a few miles away. And maybe again in a neighboring town. You start to wonder if you’re seeing double or if there’s some kind of glitch in the San Bernardino matrix.
It’s not a glitch.
It’s actually one of the most enduring, slightly confusing, and fiercely debated culinary legacies in Southern California. We aren't talking about a massive corporate chain here. This isn't Domino's. This is the story of how a specific brand of Italian immigrant hustle turned a simple name into a local institution that defined San Bernardino’s dining scene for decades. Honestly, if you grew up here, "Two Guys" wasn't just a restaurant. It was where you went after graduation, where your parents had date nights in the 80s, and where you learned that a side of pink dressing is non-negotiable.
The Roots of the Two Guys from Italy Brand
So, who were the actual two guys? To understand the Two Guys from Italy San Bernardino phenomenon, you have to look back at the post-WWII explosion of Italian-American eateries. The brand actually started as a franchise concept in the 1950s and 60s. It was the brainchild of Luigi "Lou" Schiavo and a partner. They didn't just want to sell pizza; they wanted to sell the dream of owning a restaurant.
They were smart. They set up a system where independent owners could buy into the name, use the recipes, and benefit from the collective brand power while still running their shops like family businesses. This is why, historically, no two locations were ever exactly the same. One might have had better lasagna, while the other was the king of the "submarine" sandwich. In San Bernardino, this model thrived because the city was a blue-collar hub with a massive appetite for hearty, affordable pasta.
Why San Bernardino Became the Hub
San Bernardino in the mid-20th century was a different beast than it is today. It was a booming center of industry and transit. When the Two Guys from Italy locations started popping up, they hit a nerve. People wanted big portions. They wanted that red-sauce nostalgia.
The Waterman Avenue location, in particular, became a landmark. For years, it sat as a pillar of the community. You’d walk in and see the vinyl booths, the slightly dim lighting, and that specific smell of garlic and oregano that sticks to your clothes. It felt permanent. In a city that has seen a lot of economic shifts and challenges, those restaurants felt like an anchor.
But here is where it gets interesting. Because these were independently operated under the franchise umbrella, the "Two Guys" in one part of town might not have even been on speaking terms with the "Two Guys" on the other side of the city. It created a weird, fragmented loyalty among locals. You were either a "Waterman person" or you went to the spot on Highland.
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The Pink Dressing Mystery
We have to talk about the salad dressing. Seriously.
If you mention Two Guys from Italy to anyone from the IE, the first thing they’ll mention is the pink dressing. It’s a creamy, tangy, slightly sweet concoction that defies traditional Italian culinary logic. Is it French? Is it Thousand Island? Is it a trade secret?
Actually, it’s a bit of all three. Most versions of the legendary pink dressing are a base of mayo and ketchup with a heavy hit of garlic, vinegar, and a blend of spices that vary by location. It became such a cult favorite that people started buying it by the quart to take home. It’s the kind of hyper-local food quirk that SEO algorithms often miss, but human palates never forget.
What Happened to the Original Locations?
Things changed. Time is a jerk like that. The original franchise structure started to dissolve as the founders passed away and contracts expired. Some owners kept the name. Others tweaked it. Some locations, like the iconic spot on Waterman, eventually faced the realities of a changing city.
The 2010s were particularly rough. The San Bernardino location on Waterman eventually closed its doors, leaving a massive hole in the local food scene. It wasn't just a business closing; it felt like a chapter of the city's history was being archived. However, the legacy didn't vanish. You can still find "Two Guys" offshoots and similarly named spots in Hesperia, Glendale, and even out toward the coast. Each one carries a piece of that original DNA, but the San Bernardino roots are where the legend was solidified.
The Impact of the 2015 Tragedy and Community Resilience
It is impossible to talk about the history of "two guys in San Bernardino" without acknowledging the shadow of the 2015 Inland Regional Center shooting. While not directly related to the restaurants, that event fundamentally changed how the world viewed the city. It also changed how the community interacted.
In the aftermath, local businesses—including the remaining Italian delis and pizza shops—became gathering points. They weren't just places to eat; they were places to heal. The grit of the "Two Guys" style of business—hardworking, immigrant-founded, community-focused—mirrored the resilience of the city itself. San Bernardino isn't a place that gives up easily.
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How to Find that Authentic Flavor Today
If you are looking for that specific Two Guys from Italy experience today, you have to be a bit of a detective. You won't find a corporate website with a store locator. Instead, you have to look for the "ghosts" of the franchise.
- Check the Menu: Look for the "Two Guys Special" pizza—usually loaded with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers.
- The Dressing Test: If they don't have the pink dressing, it’s not the real deal.
- The Atmosphere: Genuine offshoots still have that "Old School" vibe. If it looks too modern or "fast-casual," keep driving.
The Cultural Significance of the "Two Guys" Model
Why does this matter? Why write 1,500 words about a pizza place? Because in the era of DoorDash and ghost kitchens, we are losing the "Third Place." The Third Place is a sociological term for the spots where you spend time that aren't home (the first place) or work (the second place).
For the people of San Bernardino, those two guys provided a Third Place for three generations. It was a bridge between the old world of Italy and the new frontier of the Inland Empire. It represented the idea that you could move to a desert city, open a shop with your buddy, and feed your neighbors until your name became synonymous with the town itself.
Addressing the Misconceptions
People often confuse "Two Guys from Italy" with "Two Guys Pizza" or other generic names. Let’s be clear: the brand that dominated San Bernardino was a specific lineage.
- Is it a chain? Sort of. It was a "loose" franchise, which is why quality varied.
- Is it still in San Bernardino? The original flagship locations have mostly shuttered or transitioned, but the influence remains in the recipes of local competitors.
- Was it actually Italian? Yes. The founders were Italian immigrants who adapted their recipes for the American palate—hence the heavy use of meat and the invention of "pink dressing."
Looking Toward the Future of IE Dining
San Bernardino is currently undergoing a slow but steady shift. There’s a new generation of entrepreneurs coming in. You see it in the craft breweries and the fusion taco spots. But there is a lesson they are all learning from the two guys: consistency and community are everything.
You can have the best SEO in the world, but if your garlic knots aren't consistent, the people of the IE will find someone else. The "Two Guys" succeeded because they were reliable. You knew what you were getting. You knew the portions would be huge. You knew the service would be "friendly-ish" in that classic East Coast-meets-West Coast way.
Actionable Steps for Recreating the Experience
If you're missing the taste of the old San Bernardino staples, you don't have to just live in the past. Here is how you can tap into that legacy:
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Support the Surviving Offshoots Seek out the locations in the surrounding high desert or neighboring counties that still bear the name. They are often run by families who were part of the original expansion.
The "Pink Dressing" At Home While the exact recipe is guarded, many local food bloggers have come close. Start with a base of 1 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup ketchup, a teaspoon of sugar, a splash of red wine vinegar, and a lot of garlic powder. Whisk it until it’s that specific shade of "1980s mauve."
Explore the "Old Guard" of San Bernardino If you want the vibe of the Two Guys, visit other long-standing institutions like The Mug or Alfredo’s. These places carry the same torch of mid-century San Bernardino dining culture.
Document the History If you have old photos or menus from the Waterman location, share them on local history forums. The digital record of these "hyper-local" legends is surprisingly thin, and keeping the history alive helps maintain the city's identity.
The story of the two guys in San Bernardino isn't just about pizza. It's about how two people with a plan could define the flavor of a city for over fifty years. It’s a reminder that businesses are the heartbeat of a community, and even when the signs come down, the memories—and the taste of that dressing—stay for good.
Don't let the corporate giants fool you. The best stories (and the best meals) usually start with two guys, a hot oven, and a dream in the middle of the Inland Empire.
Next Steps for IE Foodies:
- Verify current hours: Before driving to any remaining "Two Guys" locations in Southern California, call ahead. Many operate on "family hours" and aren't always reflected accurately on Google Maps.
- Taste Test: Visit three different "Two Guys" locations in one month. You will quickly notice the subtle differences in sauce acidity and crust thickness that define the "loose franchise" model.
- Join Local Groups: Follow "San Bernardino History" groups on social media. The discussions regarding the Waterman Ave location are frequent and provide deep dives into the specific families that ran the shops.
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