08/31/2026
Today August 30th, 2026 we turned 18 years at our 2109 North
Franklin address. We opened on 830/2008 when John McCain and Sarah Palin appeared at EQT Park for their first fundraiser.
We really weren't ready to open but we couldn't afford to stay closed any longer.
This move after 69 years on W. Chestnut Street was very difficult and took a few years to get all the bugs worked out and get operating efficiently and smoothly. Soon after we opened I got a letter from an anonymous coward who told me what a fool I was, how stupid I was and how my ego was a big as the building and how he or she was going to laugh their ass off when I went belly up and bankrupt in 6 months. When things got tough, I would pull that letter out and read it, like locker room talk so to speak for a pump, focus and an energizer. Later, I sort of forgot about it and one day stumbled across it and crumbled it up with a laugh and threw it out. Today we boast 4.2 million in sales with a staff payroll of over 1.4 million with 55 employees. We do substantial philanthropy for our community and we have been part of the fabric of this community for not only the 18 years up here on the hill, but for 87 years in totality.
It took a lot for all this to happen. It took Community Bank to believe in me as well as a handful of private investors to make this happen. It took all of you to keep it going. We work hard every day,. we have a professional front of the house staff that works like the team they are and our culinary team is full of creative, hard working men and women. Our management team is top notch and we are so blessed in so many ways. . These 18 years have flown by in so many ways. Currently, we are planning a renovation in November that includes bathroom updates, all new booths, tables, chairs, some decor and some equipment improvements. So stay tuned for that. It's exciting and perhaps a bit overdue. Mostly, thanks to our guests, who mean the world to us for their loyalty and support. Thank you all.
