The owners of a casual, fine-dining eatery voted "Best Restaurant in Schuylkill County" three years in a row will bring their act to Tamaqua.

A spokesman for Tamaqua Save Our Station has announced that business owners John and Melanie Ross of New Ringgold signed a lease Saturday to operate a new restaurant, called the "Tamaqua Station Restaurant," in the historic 1874 Tamaqua railroad station."The Rosses have a lifetime of experience in the restaurant business," said Dale Freudenberger, SOS secretary, on Sunday.For about three years, the Ross couple and two others co-owned the highly popular Madeline's Restaurant in Orwigsburg, which opened in 2007. The eatery closed following a fire in 2012.The restaurant was voted best in Schuylkill County in 2009, 2010 and 2011 in an annual poll conducted by Schuylkill Living magazine.Contacted Sunday, Melanie Ross said she and her family are happy to become part of the Tamaqua area."John and I, along with our three sons, look forward to becoming your stop for fine food and spirits in the historic Tamaqua train station. We anticipate a late April opening and will offer relaxed, casual, fine dining for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch."It is very exciting to become part of the community while doing what we know and love."Ross sees advantages in the Tamaqua location, such as proximity to populations in Hazleton and the Jim Thorpe and Pocono region.She said the public will be able to follow their progress and announcements about the new Tamaqua Station Restaurant on social media soon as they intend to launch a Facebook page by the same name.The menu will include fare such as soup, salads and Reuben sandwiches, along with homemade crabcakes, seafood, steaks, chops and more.A fully stocked bar will also be available.Outdoor dining on the front station platform will be available during the summer season. In addition, outdoor summer concerts in front of the station will resume, presented by the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce.The restaurant will occupy the former site Vonz Restaurant, owned by Richard and Von Sidella, which closed its doors New Year's Eve after a run of 2½ years. Before that, the location was known as the Restaurant at the Station, operated for eight years by Bill and Sheri Beltz, closing in December 2012.Freudenberger said there was much interest in the empty restaurant space."Tamaqua SOS received a number of interested inquiries following the closing of Vonz Restaurant. All interested parties were met and interviewed at the station. Tamaqua SOS felt that the Rosses offered the best proposal, the most experience and the best opportunity for the station and downtown Tamaqua. Tamaqua SOS would like to thank the other parties for their interest in the station."Tamaqua SOS also expects to welcome a new gift shop, which will open in the station at the same time the new restaurant opens.Freudenberger said SOS is still seeking a tenant in the only remaining space available in the railroad station, a spot located at the north end of the building in the former Railway Express Agency room.Inquiries regarding available space can be directed to Freudenberger at 610-597-6722.