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COMMERCIAL FOODWAYS: TONY PACKO'S CAFÉ During the Great Depression 1932, life changed for Tony Packo and his wife, Rose, when they decided to open up an ice cream and sandwich shop where the Consaul Tavern stands today. This native east Toledoan was born in 1908 to Hungarian immigrants. Tony’s Hungarian heritage brought great popularity to his restaurant when he introduced the first Hungarian hotdog to the market. The first sandwich that Tony sold in his restaurant was a homemade split sausage on rye bread which he sold for a dime. However, the Great Depression played a large role on what his patrons could afford so by the suggestion of a customer Tony changed his sandwich to a half sausage in buns for a nickel. Toney was not satisfied with that sandwich as the final product so he decided to add a spicy meat sauce for more appeal. Tony Packo’s restaurant was such a big success that within a few months they had to knock down the walls to accommodate their thriving business. In 1935 their restaurant had grown into such a success that the couple was able to buy a building of their own on the corner of Front Street and Consaul Street. Since then they have had to make a few more renovations and additions, but they are still located in the same building. Tony Packo’s infamous bun signatures can be attributed to the efforts of his daughter, Nancy, who was able to get Burt Reynolds to come to their restaurant while he was staying in Toledo for the filming of “The Rainmaker”. While Burt Reynolds was there Nancy wanted him to sign something so he signed one of their buns. Since then many celebrities and presidential candidates have visited Tony Packo’s. Additionally, Jamie Farr, a native Toledoan, who played Corporal Max Klinger on “M*A*S*H” gave Tony Packo’s national recognition. Farr did this by getting Tony Packo’s and their famous Hungarian hotdogs integrated into six of the “M*A*S*H” episodes. |
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