Tony Packo: Ohio Restaurateur

 

Normally I start these blog posts with a photo of the person being profiled.  For the life of me though, I cannot find a picture of Tony Packo anywhere.  So the company logo will have to do.  And admittedly, Tony Packo is not exactly a household name, but it's one known by M*A*S*H fans the world over.  More on that later.

Anthony "Tony" Packo was born in Toledo, Ohio on July 25, 1908.  He was the son of Hungarian immigrants who settled on Toledo's east side.  His older brother John started a small tavern along the banks of the Ohio River, and while working for him as a teenager, Tony realized he had a knack for the restaurant business.

In 1932, Tony and his wife Rose borrowed $100 from his family, a hefty sum during the Great Depression, and opened a sandwich and ice cream shop.  His menu proved both tasty and economical, so much so that by 1935, he was able to buy a building at 1902 Front Street, which became home to the original Tony Packo's Restaurant, still in business today.  

The business proved very successful and thrived for several decades.  Tony passed away in 1963, but ironically, the restaurant's best years were yet to come.

In 1972, Burt Reynolds was appearing in a Toledo stage production.  He was approached by Tony's daughter Nancy, who invited him to stop by the restaurant while he was in town.  Reynolds did just that, and while there, he autographed a hot dog bun, starting a new Packo's tradition.  Today, the walls are decorated with hundreds of signed buns.

Four years later, Packo's achieved international recognition after being mentioned on the hit CBS series M*A*S*H.  In an un-scripted episode called "The Interview," cast members were forced to improvise their answers to questions put to them by a news crew shooting a documentary.  Cast member Jamie Farr, as Corporal Klinger, took the opportunity to give his own hometown of Toledo to that of his character.  In the process, he advised viewers to stop by Packo's for a real Hungarian hot dog.  

The writers liked what they heard during this episode, and going forward, intentionally put references to Packo's in their scripts.  The restaurant, in return, became an unofficial sponsor of the series, still selling Jamie Farr and M*A*S*H related memorabilia to this day.

Tony Packo, Jr. brings the family fixins to the M*A*S*H set, circa 1978.

Tony was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Toledo.

Rest in peace, Tony.

Trivia

• Packo's signature sandwich, known as a Hungarian hot dog, is actually a sausage with chili sauce on rye.  European immigrants who flocked to Packo's in the 1930s often stated that there was no such thing as a Hungarian hot dog until Packo invented it.
  
  
• Packo opened the original restaurant next door to his brother's tavern.  As the business expanded, Packo demolished the tavern and built a parking lot for the restaurant.
  
  
• On February 28, 1983, M*A*S*H ended it's 11-year run with a series finale that broke the Nielsen ratings.  Like many places, Packo's hosted a viewing party, which you can watch on YouTube.
  
  
• Today, there are three Packo's locations in Toledo.