Tony G’s expands with parking lot addition
WEST NORRITON » What’s the secret to an award-winning Tony G’s cheesesteak?
To the savvy taste buds, it would appear to be the twelve ounces of premium A. Altieri & Sons beef, topped with New Yorker American cheese, which is all stuffed into a seeded Collegeville Italian Bakery roll.
But let’s not forget the final, and often overlooked, ingredient that will now put this first-rate sandwich over the edge — a hassle-free parking space.
It’s no doubt tough for many to overestimate the ability to park that will make a great cheesesteak more accessible, and desirable, but thanks to a brand new parking lot next door to the popular Tony G’s South Philly Pub & Eatery, customers no longer have that problem, noted owner Keith Gallo.
“Our customers are just loving the parking lot. They can’t believe how nice it is to have parking right here now,” said Gallo of the nicely paved lot at 1987 W. Main that was once the home of Jeffersonville’s firehouse, and more recently, a bike shop.
Gallo and his parents, Frank and Marilyn Gallo, who share ownership of the tavern-restaurant at 1991 W. Main St., knew for years that the property, which had been vacant in recent years and was separated from their building by 19 inches, would make an ideal parking lot for the business, Gallo said.
“We were finally able to come to a deal and everything went through. It was approved by
PennDOT and we promised West Norriton Township we’d do everything they wanted,” he noted.
Drivers enter the lot on West Main Street and exit onto one-way Jefferson Avenue.
With the addition of a leafy tree in the corner of the lot — which can accommodate up to 15 cars, Gallo said — Tony G’s now dominates the “best looking corner” in the heart of West Norriton.
“When customers notice your improvements they want to come back because they see that you care about the place,” Gallo said.
Now that customers no longer need to hunt down that elusive parking spot on Jefferson Avenue or across the road on busy Main Street, business has been booming, he added.
The recent Fourth of July week saw more of those famous cheesesteaks flying out of the kitchen than ever, Gallo recalled.
“But even before the parking lot, our business has done better every year, because when people find something they like and are comfortable going there they’re going to keep on coming. But there were people who just went somewhere else when they couldn’t find a place to park. Now they can park and the new lot is actually bringing in a lot of older
people who wouldn’t normally come because of the parking issue, or because they couldn’t walk too far. I’m seeing people who have never been here before who are coming three or four times a week,” Gallo said.
“There’s one couple where the husband used to drop his wife off, park across the street and walk over. Now they can pull right in and they love coming here to eat.”
The food began taking the lead a decade ago with Gallo’s influence when he reinvented the little corner bar his dad started back in 1981 as Frank’s Pub into Tony G’s South Philly Style Pub & Eatery, complete with an enticing menu and a crisp, contemporary motif accented by hardwood
floors and vintage photos of the now gone firehouse next door that was built around the turn of the 20th Century.
“My goal with changing the name was to make this place not just the local watering hole but the local eatery too,” explained Gallo, who earned a degree in restaurant management from Widener University and grew up honing his culinary skills around the chefs at the now closed family business, Anthony’s Tavern & Restaurant in Bridgeport.
“Now we’re really getting known more for our food, including a lot of pick-up orders and business from (food delivery service) DoorDash. We have a huge menu and specials on different nights. Monday night is
‘Big Dawg Night,’ with different style quarter-pound dogs, like sauerkraut and onions and Texas Tommy. This week we were packed for Tuscany Tuesday, when you can get a personal style pizza for $6, which is a good meal,” noted Gallo, who manages Tony G’s active social media presence.
Currently, the upstairs dining room is open Wednesday through Sunday, but customers who want to escape the smoking environment are always welcome to being served in the upstairs lounge, Gallo pointed out.
“We’re probably the only really nice smoking bar in the area, but if you don’t like the smoke, the bartender will tell you that you can go upstairs and they will take the food up there to you,” said Gallo, who believes his constant, enthusiastic presence on site is reassuring to customers.
“I think being family owned separates us from a lot of the other places. I’m here every day. I’m very hands-on and customers like that. They like coming in and seeing the owner here all the time,” he said. “You have to love what you do to be successful and be excited about it, and I can’t wait to get to work every day to see what we can do to improve.”