Lucy's Cafe

Lucy's Cafe was an Italian restaurant located in Hershey, Pennsylvania that was family owned and operated for more than 75 years. [http://blog.pennlive.com/go/2007/10/lucy.html Lucy's farewell - Go! With The Patriot-News ] ] The restaurant's meat balls were a home-made recipe that were popular throughout Pennsylvania, and were at one time sold at Hershey Bears hockey games. [http://www.hersheypa.com/events/giant_center/about_concessions.html Concessions ] ]

History

Lucy's Cafe was founded by sisters Josephine Fromboluti and Lucia Santoro, after their immigration from Italy. [http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2008/01/firefighters_called_to_former.html Blaze demolishes site of popular Hershey restaurant - Midstate PA Local News, Weather, Sports & Entertainment - PennLive.com ] ] The restaurant's ownership shifted throughout the 20th century, before being acquired by its final owner, Tony Tatangelo, in the 1970s. Tatangelo, Fromboluti's grandson, was the third generation of the family to own the restaurant. gutted]

Lucy's Cafe was visited throughout the years by many celebrities, such as Joe Paterno,gutted] Micheal Bolton,gutted] Jim Kelly, Lynn Swann,gutted] and many more. The restaurant also was visited annually by players and coaches of the Big 33 Football Classic.

Purchase by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company

In October 2007, local newspapers confirmed rumored reports that Lucy's Cafe had been sold. [http://blog.pennlive.com/go/2007/10/lucy.html Lucy's farewell - Go! With The Patriot-News ] ] The purchase was made by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company (also known as HERCO).gutted] Coincidentally, Lucy's Cafe had formerly sold meatballs to the GIANT Center, home arena of the Hershey Bears (an AHL team owned by HERCO), for sale at the team's games. The restaurant's final day of business was December 31, 2007. [http://blog.pennlive.com/go/2007/10/lucy.html Lucy's farewell - Go! With The Patriot-News ] ]

On January 21, 2008, a fire damaged much of the building that was once Lucy's Cafe. [http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2008/01/firefighters_called_to_former.html Blaze demolishes site of popular Hershey restaurant - Midstate PA Local News, Weather, Sports & Entertainment - PennLive.com ] ] The cause of the fire has not officially been determined, but plans for the sale to HERCO have not been deterred. [http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2008/01/firefighters_called_to_former.html Blaze demolishes site of popular Hershey restaurant - Midstate PA Local News, Weather, Sports & Entertainment - PennLive.com ] ]

Lucy's Cafe Meat Sauce and Meatballs

Lucy's Cafe was known regionallyGleiter, Sue. [http://www.patriot-news.com "Lucy's Cafe Prepares to Close at Year's End"] , The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 2007-10-03, pp. D01.] for its meat sauce and hand-rolled meatballs, which were sold both in the restaurant with meals and "to go" in container sizes ranging from quart to gallon.

The meatballs were so well known that for several years they were sold at Hershey Bears' (an American Hockey League team) home games.

The recipe for the sauce and meatballs remains a family secret. During the restaurant's final month of business, sales of the famed meat sauce and meatballs boomed. Currently, there is no way to purchase the sauce or meatballs, and the recipe has not been published. During the restaurant's final weeks, owner Tony Tatangelo hinted that the meat sauce and meatballs may be available in the future, but official plans for any future sales were not immediately announced announced. ]

Current Sales of Lucy's Cafe Meat Sauce and Meatballs

On April 9th, 2008, the sale of Lucy's Cafe Meat Sauce and Meatballs resumedGleiter, Sue. http://www.pennlive.com/columns/patriotnews/gleiter/index.ssf?/base/columnists/1207618825101930.xml&coll=1&thispage=2] . The Meat Sauce and Meatballs can be purchased from Bricker's Pizza and Restaurant, Hershey, Pennsylvania. ] Bricker's Pizza and Restaurant is located less than one block from the former location of Lucy's Cafe.

References