ALLENTOWN, Pa. – For nearly six decades, Stahley’s Family Restaurant and bar has been a landmark in East Allentown, a place where generations came for clams, cheesesteaks, and conversation.
Now the family behind it all is turning the page.
“I was six months old when my dad opened it,” Darryl Stahley says. “When we say it’s been a family business, it wasn’t just our family, it was other people’s families. And the great families of the east side.”
After 57 years, Darryl Stahley and his family have sold the restaurant.
“We wouldn’t just sell it to anybody. We weren’t going to sell it to somebody that’s going to lock the doors and open it up the way they want it. We want them to keep the staff,” Stahley explains.
The new owner is Zonia Sibri-Quinde, a local businesswoman who first came here nearly 30 years ago.
“I can’t believe it. I got this place because when I came from Ecuador in 1995, my brother-in-law, Cornelio, said, let’s go have clams. There is a place they have a great clams. So let’s go. And then we came and we enjoyed the clams,” Zonia explains. “And yeah, It was here. And now I’m the owner.”
Zonia says she plans to keep Stahley’s the same: Same staff, same comfort foods, with just a few new touches.
“Oh yeah. The clams we want to stay forever,” Sibri-Quinde says. “The cream chip beef, homemade cream chip beef, sausage gravy, the fresh omelets, the crepes. People love the crepes.”
For Darryl, its a bittersweet goodbye.
“Yeah, I am going to be sad, but I’m also going to be very proud,” Darryl says.
“I’m very excited and nervous at the same time,” Zonia added. “I want to see the community to come and enjoy with me, and I will be happy to help in any way.”
The Stahley family’s message to the community is one of gratitude.
“Thank you to the community. I mean, you know, we gave back and they gave back and we all worked together and it was just, it’s bittersweet,” Darryl added.