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It all started out in 1923 when
Steve Karampilas,
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.
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