Tony Packo's Cafe facts for kids
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| Restaurant | |
| Industry | Restaurant, pre-packaged foods |
| Founded | 1932 |
| Founder | Tony Packo |
| Headquarters | , |
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Number of locations
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5 |
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Key people
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Bob Bennett, Tony Packo Jr. |
| Revenue | $5 Million (2003) |
| Owner | Bob Bennett |
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Number of employees
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190 (2010) |
| Parent | TP Foods LLC |
Tony Packo's Cafe is a famous restaurant located in the Hungarian neighborhood of Birmingham, in Toledo, Ohio. It first opened its doors at 1902 Front Street.
The restaurant started in 1932. It became very well-known after being mentioned in several episodes of the TV show M*A*S*H, which aired from 1972 to 1983. People often call it "Toledo’s most famous eatery" or "a Toledo institution." Tony Packo's is especially famous for its special sandwich and a huge collection of hot dog buns signed by celebrities.
Contents
The Story of Tony Packo's
Tony Packo opened his first shop in 1932 during the Great Depression. He borrowed $100 to start his business, which first sold only sandwiches and ice cream. In 1935, the Packo family bought the building where the restaurant is today. It's a unique wedge-shaped building, sometimes called "flat iron-shaped," located near the Maumee River.
Tony Packo created his famous "sausage-and-sauce sandwich." He decided to add a spicy chili sauce to his sandwiches for more flavor. The sandwich uses a Hungarian sausage called kolbász, which is similar to Polish kielbasa. When sliced in half, this sausage has about the same amount of meat as a regular hot dog. This special creation became known as the "Hungarian hot dog," even though it was Tony's own invention and not something from Hungary itself.
Changes in Ownership
When Tony Packo became very sick in 1962, his daughter, Nancy Packo Horvath, took over the business. Tony passed away in 1963 at age 55. His son, Tony Jr., joined the company in 1968. The restaurant grew a lot in the late 1960s under Nancy and Tony Jr.'s leadership. In 1980, the Packo family also started selling packaged foods, like pickles, under their own brand.
Later, in October 2011, Robert G. Bennett bought Tony Packo's, Inc. He paid $5.5 million for the company. Mr. Bennett passed away in May 2013.
In October 2019, Tony Packo's opened two smaller "concept stores" inside Kroger grocery stores. These new locations are in Perrysburg, Ohio, and Holland, Ohio.
Signed Buns Tradition
The tradition of signing hot dog buns started in 1972. The famous actor Burt Reynolds visited Toledo and stopped at Tony Packo's. Tony's daughter, Nancy, suggested he visit. Burt Reynolds was the first big celebrity to eat there. He also started the "bun signing" tradition by signing his name on a real Packo hot dog bun.
Since then, many celebrities who visit the restaurant sign a "bun." Today, these "buns" are usually foam look-alikes that are air-brushed to look like real buns. These signed buns are then displayed on the walls of Tony Packo's, creating a unique collection.
Tony Packo's and M*A*S*H
Tony Packo's Cafe became famous around the world because of the TV show M*A*S*H. In the show, the character Maxwell Klinger was from Toledo. He often talked about Tony Packo's as his favorite place to eat. The restaurant was mentioned in six different episodes of the series.
- In a 1976 episode called "The Interview", Klinger told an interviewer, "If you're ever in Toledo, Ohio, on the Hungarian side of town, Tony Packo's, greatest Hungarian hot dogs, with chili peppers, 35 cents, and a cold beer!"
- In a 1977 episode, "The Grim Reaper", Klinger and a wounded soldier talked about their memories of Toledo. The soldier said he had his last Hungarian hot dog just before going to Korea. Later, the soldier sent Klinger some Packo's Hungarian hot dogs and chili peppers, which Klinger shared with his friends.
- In a 1978 episode, "Dear Sis", Klinger described a dream where a Christmas tree was decorated with an endless chain of Packo's Hungarian hot dogs.
- The 1980 episode "Dreams" actually showed Tony Packo's in the series. Klinger dreamed he was walking through Toledo and saw the restaurant. However, the scene was filmed on a set, not at the real location.
- In a 1980 episode, "A War for All Seasons", the hospital unit ordered sausage casings from Tony Packo's. They used these casings to build a simple machine that could filter blood.
- In the final episode of the series in 1983, "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen", Klinger talked about wanting to be back in Toledo. He wished he could be "Sitting in Packo's with the guys, having a beer and eating a dog while the chili sauce drips down your arm ..."
The real Tony Packo's restaurant displays items from M*A*S*H. This includes the prop box that was used for the sausage casings in the "A War for All Seasons" episode.
See also
