The Early Years

It all started out in 1923 when Steve Karampilas (at right), having left Greece three years earlier, set up shop as a tenant in the basement of a circa 1865 building in downtown Scranton on the corner of Cedar and Lackawanna Avenues. He named his luncheonette Coney Island Texas Lunch and did what he knew best, serving affordable and quality food to hard working friends.

Ted Karampilas began working for his dad as a sophomore in high school all while the Coney Island legacy, and fan base, continued to grow. As new fans joined the original customers in the booths and at the counter, Ted and his brother Jack assumed control of the restaurant when Steve Karampilas died in the early 1970s. Ted and Jack continued their father’s hard work and success. Time marched on and eventually Jack’s step-children became more involved in the day to day with Ted in the years that preceded Jack’s passing.

For a brief period of time in the 1980’s, Ted was on hiatus from his Coney Island roots, but it was never far from his heart or mind. In 1988, with a renewed passion for his father’s original dream, and new business partners, Ted and Mary Lou Karampilas and Tom and Maureen Moran rekindled the charm and success of the original family operation, this time as both the owners and operators of the original location. Despite attempts by many to challenge our standing as the Original Coney Island of Scranton, we’ve enjoyed great success. We pride ourselves on our ability to outlast our competitors and adversaries with our integrity, honesty and hard work. Ted cut back on his daily involvement several years ago for health reasons, but if you’re lucky, you’ll still catch him at the grill every once in a while. Those old habits really do die hard. Tom, still the “new guy” after 20 years at the restaurant, and over 40 years as a successful businessman in downtown Scranton , is still a daily presence.

Over the years the faces have changed, but The Original Coney Island of Scranton staff is always dedicated to maintaining Steve’s original concept and formula. We offer a casual atmosphere with great service and a great product at an affordable price in a place that everyone can enjoy. Our old fashioned sentiment and our customers unwavering support have made us a local landmark. We can’t thank you enough for your patronage. The loyalty of our customers is what we view as the ultimate mark of success in this town. After all, how many establishments do you know of that have been operating continuously, and in the same location, since 1923? Not many.

We think that it is a testament to The Original Coney Island’s contribution to the legacy of Scranton that in 2007 we were honored by the Lackawanna Historical Society, which is the “oldest cultural institution in the county…committed to preservation of the historical, social, cultural and economic developments of Lackawanna County,” by being featured prominently on two of six postcards they offered through their organization (www.lackawannahistory.org). One of the postcards features our restaurant, and another includes our building in a photograph of the pre-construction 500 block of Lackawanna Avenue .

The next time you are downtown, come in and sit at the same booth your parents or grandparents did when they were dating, or maybe sit in the same spot where you carved your initials years ago. Reminisce a while or share stories on current events and local news while you enjoy good company, friendly service and a great Texas Wiener. It’s still the best deal in town. The Original Coney Island of Scranton has survived the test of time, and Scranton , over the past 85 years. We plan to be right here for the next 85 years at least, serving many more generations of fans as they pass through the doors and down the ramp to sit and enjoy the “Original” uniquely Scranton treat.