Est. 1927 · Fairmont
The Pepperoni Roll
The little bread roll that put Marion County on the map.
Hey! Have you heard of these before? Pepperoni rolls are soft white bread rolls with pepperoni baked in the middle. The idea came from the local coal mines in the 1920s, and now it’s the state food! Sticks of pepperoni and bread were staples for Italian miners to take underground. Then, in 1927, this guy, Giuseppe “Joseph” Argiro, an Italian immigrant and coal miner, was the first person to commercialize pepperoni rolls. You can still go to his store: Country Club Bakery.
Where to find them
Every bakery and local spot we could find. Plus the Pepperoni Roll Drop.
Eat as many pepperoni rolls as you can and earn prizes!
You can collect points with each bakery you go to and get a sticker or lunch baggie or lunch tote. Comes in handy on trips to Valley Falls or long drives in the car.
Why all the bread and pepperoni?
I bet you’re wondering why Marion County is so obsessed with bread and pepperoni. I did, too, until I realized how significant the coal mining history is here. Just look at all their memorials.
The memorials
The mines these families worked, and the places Marion County remembers them.
Ready to eat?
Don’t wander around trying to find pepperoni rolls
Use Marion County’s little guide to get you where you need to go.