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Owners of Burned-out Restaurant Opening New Location

TAMAQUA — The former owners of a restaurant voted best place to eat in Schuylkill County are bringing their culinary talents to the Tamaqua railroad stati...
TAM restaurant

TAMAQUA -- The former owners of a restaurant voted best place to eat in Schuylkill County are bringing their culinary talents to the Tamaqua railroad station.

Cans of paint are signs of some change at the Tamaqua railroad station. New restaurateurs are taking over.

A photo from when the station opened in 1874 will be the inspiration for the new restaurant.

tam station

John Ross and his wife have been in the restaurant industry for more than 20 years. They will be opening the new "Tamaqua Station Restaurant."

It will have a feel of the last restaurant they owned, Madeline's in Orwigburg.

Fire destroyed that restaurant in 2012 after it was voted best restaurant in Schuylkill County for three years in a row.

"We will have a menu that is similar to what we had at Madeline's, casual fine dining," said Ross.

People from Tamaqua hope the new restaurant at the railroad station has staying power.

Over the past 140 years, this station has housed several restaurants that have closed after just a few years.

Most recently, Vonz closed in January after just two and a half years there.

"Maybe their reputation will supersede what happened in the past, and that will be great for the area," said Tamaqua resident Howard Boyer.

"I'm hoping. I always like a good restaurant, something different in the area, something other than a hoagie or a pizza!" added Mike Gazo.

Although Ross just signed a three-year lease, he's hoping to be there much longer.

"I also have three sons who have expressed interest in carrying on the tradition for the next generation, so hopefully we will be here for 40 or 50 years."

The new restaurant is expected to open in just a few weeks, by mid-April.

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