Lucy's Cafe facts for kids
Lucy's Cafe was a famous Italian restaurant in Hershey, Pennsylvania. It was a family business that served delicious food for over 75 years! People especially loved their homemade meatballs. These meatballs were so popular that they were even sold at Hershey Bears hockey games.
History of Lucy's Cafe
Lucy's Cafe was started by two sisters, Josephine Fromboluti and Lucia Santoro. They came to America from Italy and opened the restaurant. Josephine's daughter, Mary Tatangelo, managed the restaurant for most of its history.
Later, Mary shared ownership with her sons, Tony and Robert Tatangelo. This was in the 1970s and 1980s. From 1989 until it closed in 2007, Tony Tatangelo was the only owner.
Many famous people visited Lucy's Cafe over the years. Some well-known guests included Joe Paterno, Michael Bolton, Jim Kelly, and Lynn Swann. Players and coaches from the annual Big 33 Football Classic also came to the restaurant.
Sale to Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company
In October 2007, news spread that Lucy's Cafe had been sold. Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company (HERCO) bought the restaurant. This company also owns the Hershey Bears hockey team.
It was interesting because Lucy's Cafe had already sold its famous meatballs to the Giant Center, where the Hershey Bears play. The restaurant served its last meal on December 31, 2007.
On January 21, 2008, a fire damaged the building where Lucy's Cafe used to be. People thought the fire might have started from an oil tank.
Lucy's Cafe Meatballs and Sauce
Lucy's Cafe was very well known for its special meat sauce and hand-rolled meatballs. You could buy them with your meal at the restaurant. You could also buy them "to go" in different container sizes.
The meatballs were so famous that they were sold at Hershey Bears hockey games for several years. The Hershey Bears are an American Hockey League team.
The recipe for the sauce and meatballs is still a family secret. When the restaurant was closing, many people bought the sauce and meatballs. The recipe has not been shared publicly. However, you can still buy Lucy's Cafe meat sauce and meatballs today. They are sold at Bricker's Pizza and Restaurant in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
