In a post-COVID world, finding a restaurant open 24 hours is far and few between. However, folks in the small Akron neighborhood of Ellet know a spot.

Owned and operated by Tony Jaber and his family, The Lampost serves as an iconic diner for patrons at any hour. We sat down with Jaber to hear a little bit about this quaint Akron diner.

Behind the Breakfast

Lebanon-born Jaber came from a family of hard work and restaurants. His father began his long reign in the restaurant industry in 1978 at Eli’s Steakhouse, a longtime, local favorite.

“I basically grew up in the kitchen. I was a dishwasher, my brother was a dishwasher, my sister was a dishwasher: we all started in the kitchen,” says Jaber.

No handouts here. Jaber worked his way up through the restaurant, from dishwasher to head chef. He had become accustomed to the dedication and ruthlessness of the industry.

“I knew the restaurant business, and one of the things I wanted to open was a 24-hour restaurant. The Lampost was a historic 24-hour restaurant; it’s been around since the 60s.”

The Lampost moved into its current building, which had previously been East Side Cafe, due to capacity. Jaber’s goal was to ensure the culture and history of The Lampost were preserved, but he couldn’t feasibly do so with the given space.

“I think it only had four booths and maybe 20 counter spots, and you could watch them cook in front of you, right behind the counter.”

Jaber brought up a good point, in that a rush of patrons would come in after the bars would close around 2:30 p.m. and either be lucky enough to grab a seat, or be forced to wait over an hour for a meal. With these long wait times, Jaber decided it would be best to move The Lampost to its current location at 2146 E Market Street.

Alongside The Lampost, Jaber developed the Firehouse Grille & Pub chain in Akron, totaling 13 locations, as well as Roma’s Pizzeria, which is run mainly by his son. Due to the rapid growth of Firehouse franchises, Jaber sold off many of the locations, retaining the real estate. Though his focus shifted within the last year to the real estate side of the business, his passion lies in the restaurants.

“I love watching the business grow and be successful, that’s what’s exciting for me. You know, when you see people smiling and just happy that you’re open, you're doing the right things.”

Hungry for the He-Man

When you walk into The Lampost, you’re greeted by checkered floors, red vinyl booths, and plenty of stools situated at the counter. It’s a quintessential diner vibe done up with bright teal walls and signage adorning the walls. What better way to enjoy the humongous He-Man breakfast at 3 a.m. than in a joint like this?

But what is “He-Man”, you may ask? Well, this pizza platter of breakfast foods is The Lampost’s claim to fame.

“The ‘He-Man’ was created because I noticed that people couldn’t decide what to order. They wanted biscuits and gravy and home fries and some eggs, but also French toast.”

He-Man: a breakfast lover’s dream made up of three eggs, two orders of hashbrowns, two hot cakes or French toast, your choice of meat, toast, and a biscuit smothered in sausage gravy.

“If you order one of everything, your table is full and there’s no chance of eating it all. It’ll cost you an arm and a leg,” says Jaber. “So, we decided to put it all on a 16-inch pizza platter.”

^{The "He-Man" in all of its glory. (Courtesy of Eat Local Ohio)}

Take on the breakfast if you dare, but we recommend sharing it with a few of your closest friends who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty with runny yolks. This star dish (or challenge, depending on your mood) has been served up since 1994 and is ordered upwards of 60 times a day.

And, for a slim price of $14.99, there may be no better breakfast deal out there.

“My customer base is blue collar. They’re hardworking people, and I understand that price is important. I try to keep my pricing as competitive as we possibly can just so that my customers get a value,” says Jaber. “My theory is, I would rather see them four times a week than see them once a month.”

Jaber mentioned that so long as The Lampost is consistent with the volume of orders, he doesn’t mind taking a two or three-dollar cut per meal.

Family-Friendly Food

Every establishment owned by Jaber is a proudly family-owned and operated endeavor, but it goes beyond blood.

“We try to treat our employees like family.”

Jaber tells us that plenty of the kitchen staff have been there for years, some having started as young as 15 or 16. Now, those same crew members have children of their own who lend a helping hand.

Of course, Jaber’s own children are similarly putting in the work.

“One of my greatest accomplishments is when I speak to customers and they tell me that my kids are really working hard, and they wouldn’t think that they’re the owner’s kids.”

From serving your food to managing the place and filming TikToks with Jaber’s adorable grandchildren, the entire Jaber clan has its hands in the family business. It spans generations, really.

“My 88-year-old mother comes in here and makes all of the soups,” Jaber chuckles. “She’s the typical grandma in a kitchen with broken English that you would envision, just cute as a button.”

Jaber tells us that his mother makes all of the soups, cabbage rolls, and stuffed peppers. If there’s a special going on, she’s most likely the one chefing it up for everyone.

So, if you’re looking for something to warm the soul, it’s as close to a home-cooked meal as you can get, at any time of day. For locals and beyond, The Lampost is serving up delicious eats at all hours, from gyros to biscuits and gravy.

 

 

 

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Visit The Lampost!

2146 E Market St, Akron

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