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 in Toledo, Ohio. It started in 1932 in the Hungarian part of the city. The restaurant is known for its special hot dogs and a huge collection of signed hot dog buns. Many celebrities have signed these buns!
Tony Packo's became super famous because it was mentioned in the TV show M*A*S*H. People often call it "Toledo’s most famous eatery."
Contents
The Story of Tony Packo's
Tony Packo opened his restaurant in 1932. This was during the Great Depression, a time when many people had little money. Tony borrowed $100 to start his shop. At first, he only sold sandwiches and ice cream.
In 1935, the Packo family bought a unique building. It's shaped like a wedge, similar to a flat iron. This building is still where the restaurant is today, right by the Maumee River.
The Famous Hungarian Hot Dog
Tony Packo invented his special "sausage-and-sauce sandwich." He decided to add a spicy chili sauce to his sandwiches. This made them taste even better!
The sandwich uses a Hungarian sausage called kolbász. It's similar to a Polish kielbasa. Tony cut the sausage in half, making it about the same size as a regular hot dog. This new creation became known as the "Hungarian hot dog." But actually, there was no such thing from Europe before Tony made it!
Family Business and Changes
In 1962, Tony Packo became very sick. His daughter, Nancy Packo Horvath, took over the business. Tony passed away in 1963 when he was 55 years old.
His son, Tony Jr., joined the company in 1968. Nancy and Tony Jr. helped the business grow a lot in the late 1960s. In 1980, they started selling packaged foods, like pickles, under their family brand.
Later, there were some disagreements within the family about the business. They solved these issues in 2002 by adding an outside person to help make decisions. Sadly, Nancy passed away in 2003.
In 2011, Robert G. Bennett bought Tony Packo's, Inc. He passed away in 2013. The restaurant continues to be a popular spot. In 2019, Tony Packo's even opened smaller stores inside two Kroger grocery stores.
Signing the Buns
The tradition of "bun signing" started in 1972. The famous actor Burt Reynolds visited Tony Packo's. Tony's daughter, Nancy, suggested he stop by. Burt Reynolds was the first big celebrity to eat there.
He also started the fun tradition! He signed his name on a real hot dog bun. Since then, many celebrities have visited the restaurant. They all sign a "bun" – but now it's a foam bun that looks like a real one. These signed buns are displayed all over the walls of Tony Packo's!
Tony Packo's and M*A*S*H
Tony Packo's Cafe became famous worldwide thanks to the TV show M*A*S*H. A character named Maxwell Klinger was from Toledo. The actor who played Klinger, Jamie Farr, was also from Toledo.
Klinger often talked about Tony Packo's as his favorite place to eat. The restaurant was mentioned in six different episodes of the show!
- In one episode, 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 another episode, Klinger and a wounded soldier shared memories of Toledo. The soldier even sent Klinger some Packo's Hungarian hot dogs from home!
- Klinger once dreamed of a Christmas tree decorated with an endless chain of Packo's Hungarian hot dogs.
- The show even featured a visual of Tony Packo's in one episode. Klinger dreamed he was walking through Toledo and saw the restaurant.
- In one funny episode, the hospital unit ordered sausage casings from Tony Packo's. They used them to make a simple machine to filter blood.
- In the very last episode of M*A*S*H, Klinger said he wished he was back in Toledo. He wanted to be "sitting in Packo's with the guys, having a beer and eating a dog while the chili sauce drips down your arm..."
Today, you can see items from the M*A*S*H TV show at the actual Tony Packo's restaurant. This includes the prop box that was used for the sausage casings in the show!
See also
