Ownership of a family-run eating establishment serving the Tamaqua area for 85 years has changed hands.

The landmark Beacon Diner and Restaurant at the intersection of Route 309 and 54 in Hometown was sold to a Douglassville restaurateur on July 8.

The new owner, still familiarizing himself with the establishment and local area, says he will change the name of the operation but not the focus.

“We’ll be calling it Hometown Diner 309,” said Adam Houir on Monday as he worked side-by-side with seller Connie Taylor Ferrari.

At 39, Houir is already experienced in the food business.

“We also own Fairlane Diner by Fairlane Village Mall and Route 61 Diner in Muhlenberg.”

Houir comes from an ethnic Greek background and is sensitive to tradition. He says his goal will be to continue the rich tradition of the Hometown eatery.

“We are keeping it the way it is. But we’ll add a salad bar, which we have at our other locations.”

However, the new owner will eliminate the existing bar at the Hometown site. The business will focus on food, not alcohol, he said.

Expanded hours

One big change will be the hours of operation as Houir will expand availability in the coming weeks and months.

“A lot of people are requesting extended hours.”

In response, Houir said he will do his best to accommodate.

“We’re extending hours from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. And we’d like to also open 24 hours on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.”

Those ambitious plans come as music to the ears of Ferrari, who spent years painstakingly seeking out just the correct buyer for the legacy business her grandfather started in 1941.

She feels the new owner comes with ideas and ambition that will make the best of a business in which her parents and grandparents devoted so much love.

“I think this honors them.”

Ferrari said her decision was based on the needs of the community and the restaurant’s loyal staff.

“While this marks the end of a long chapter for our family, we are excited to share that The Beacon will remain a diner. It’ll continue to serve our hometown with the same high-quality food and friendly service that you’ve come to know and love.”

Ferrari, of Hometown, is still helping at the business during transition but eventually intends to enjoy retirement.

“As we move on to new adventures, we want to look back on the years we’ve spent supporting this community, which has given us so much in return. We extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our loyal customers and the general public for your patronization, your support, and your friendship over the decades. You made it all worthwhile.

“Please welcome the new owner. Stop by, say hello, and introduce yourself as The Beacon moves forward.”

History

Ernest Taylor opened the Beacon on May 28, 1941, at the junction of Route 29 and 45, now called 189 Claremont Avenue, Tamaqua.

The family also opened the Beacon 443 Restaurant in Lehighton.

Taylor passed away in 1987 at the age of 87.

The original structure was created by shipping two sections, 60 feet by 14 feet, from Haledon, New Jersey, and joining them together on a pre-dug stone foundation in Hometown.

The restaurant has been a landmark for decades, providing meals for locals as well as those traveling between Philadelphia and Scranton and all points in between.

They eatery served meals to actors and entertainers from Lakewood Musical Playhouse and was a popular stop-off point for attendees of Lakewood Park and the Bavarian Summer Festival during the 1960s and 70s.

The historic eatery is believed to be the final pre-war diner of its kind still standing in the anthracite region.