After a 14 month break, fans of a popular late night restaurant in Girardville were lined up Thursday evening to get their fix of some of Schuylkill County's favorite cheeseburgers.
Tony's Lunch on Main Street in Girardville reopened Thursday after being closed since March of 2020. The owners, the Salukas family, closed last year due to COVID-19.
Tony's is well known for their famous Screamers which is a cheeseburger topped with their own hot sauce and onions, and their Fluffburger which is a Screamer topped with Marshmallow Fluff.
The restaurant opened at 6:00pm, Thursday, but the first person in line, Matt Deeble, of Mahanoy City, was in line at 2:30pm.
When asked why he wanted to be first in line, Deeble said "It's Tony's! They're amazing! When somebody says Tony's, the first thing you think of is the Screamers. It's something you gotta have".
By opening time, over 50 customers had lined down the sidewalk on Main Street.
Owner Joe Salukas was happy to be flipping and smashing burgers again.
"It's going to take awhile to get back in shape, I'm using muscles I haven't used in 14 months. I'm glad to be back though. It's nice to know people enjoy the burgers so much to come out and stand there to wait." said Salukas.
Joe's wife, Claire, said she had goosebumps after seeing the customers lined outside.
"It's nice after 45 years that the customers to continue to come back. I appreciate that they like our burgers. It gives me the goosebumps, people have been thanking us and congratulating us all day". Claire said.
As the first 50 people found a seat and their orders were taken, another 50 to 60 people had lined up outside and business continued at Tony's as if they were never closed.
Tony's ended up being so busy Thursday, they they stopped taking orders just after 10:00pm.
Tony's Lunch regular hours are:
Sunday - 6:00pm yo 12:00am
Monday - 6:00pm to 12:00am
Tuesday - Closed
Wednesday - Closed
Thursday - 6:00pm to 12:00am
Friday - 7:30pm to 1:30am
Saturday - 7:30pm to 1:30am
