The Coney Island

A century-old family business that never closes: the same chili recipe since 1917, a full menu at any hour, and a dining room, tavern, and drive-thru at 2290 West Market Street.

Since 1917

Greek immigrant Sam Palles opened The Coney Island downtown on Centre Street in 1917 — its “famous Coney Island Hot Weiners” were advertised in the Pottsville Republican as early as 1918 — and the founding is part of the county’s wider Greek immigrant story. It has stayed in the family ever since, serving the same recipes today from its West Market Street home, a couple of miles up from where it started.

The food

The signature is the Coney dog — a hot dog on a soft bun with the house family chili, mustard, and onion. Around it runs a full menu of comfort food and bar favorites, with homemade breakfast in the mornings (6–11 a.m. Monday through Saturday, to 1 p.m. Sundays). The full menu is published by the restaurant.

The tavern

As a tavern, The Coney Island pours alongside the food: draft beer and cider, bottles, wine, and cocktails — including Yuengling, brewed a short way up the hill at America’s oldest operating brewery. Beyond the dining room there’s a four-season patio with a fireplace and, in season, an outdoor tiki bar.

Visiting

The Coney Island serves a role few places in the county do — the late shift, the early start, and every hour in between, with a drive-thru when you’d rather not leave the car. It sits at 2290 West Market Street in Pottsville, the seat of Schuylkill County, and is reachable at 570-622-7722. For other places to eat across the county, see the food guide; for everything else in Pottsville — events, history, and the business registry — see the Pottsville town hub.