Harrisburg, PA
The Spot and its famous franks are headed toward memory lane.

After almost seven decades in business, the Kaldes family is shutting its landmark city restaurant at Walnut and North Second streets.

Increases in rent and the cost of food prompted the family's decision to close the eatery at the end of September.

"It went up, everything is going up," said owner Billy Kaldes. "There is only so much you can do with the hot dog. It's getting tough."

"I knew it was coming," Kaldes said, adding that he tried to delay the inevitable. "I didn't want to let it go. I guess it's going to be a shock to some people."

Restaurants and bars serving everything from martinis and sushi to steaks and chicken wings have come and gone along Restaurant Row, while The Spot, with its simple menu, which includes hot dogs, hamburgers and cold beer, remained a city fixture.

Through the years, it attracted people from all walks of life, including politicians, state and city workers and senior citizens, as well as a late-night bar crowd.

"It's terrible," said Lee Swartz, a Harrisburg attorney and longtime customer, said of the closing. "I've known these people for a long time and they run a great establishment that will be irreplaceable."

Mamie Williams of Harrisburg, who works for the city Human Relations Commission, was picking up lunch at The Spot yesterday as she does two or three times a week when she heard the news. "It's not good at all. I'll really miss him," she said. "The food is good, it's close to where I work and reasonable."

At this point, Kaldes said his options are open. "I can't afford to sit home. It's awkward. It's a new chapter in my life," he said. "I can't change what is happening. All I can do is go forward."

He met with Mayor Stephen R. Reed this week to break the news. Yesterday, Reed said he offered to help Kaldes find another location downtown.

The mayor said The Spot has always reminded him of a classic American roadside diner where you might find a Hell's Angel in one booth and a judge in another.

The Spot, with its signature orange decor, is one of the oldest family operated restaurants in Harrisburg.

Billy Kaldes grew up working at The Spot and took over the operations from his father, Jimmy Kaldes, 91, who continued helping in the kitchen until he was recently diagnosed with cancer.

The Spot opened on Market Square in 1939 and was operated by Jimmy Kaldes' uncles, James and George Belehas. In 1980, the then 24-hour restaurant moved a half-block to its present site.

In recent years, The Spot would close about 3 a.m. and reopen to serve breakfast.

"Harrisburg is going to lose a landmark, that's for sure," said Harrisburg Police Chief Charles Kellar, a regular diner.

Customers were drawn by the friendly atmosphere and Spot dogs -- grilled hot dogs tucked in a roll, drizzled with mustard, topped with onions and smothered in a secret recipe chili sauce.

Occasionally, a diner might find himself sitting next to Gov. Ed Rendell, who had The Spot serve food at both of his inauguration parties.

"The Spot has been an institution in ... Harrisburg for generations," Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo said. "It will undoubtedly be missed, especially by those seeking nourishment in the wee hours of the morning.

Kaldes said he is closing with both a sad heart and a head held high. In 1987, he initiated a sports memorabilia auction to benefit United Cerebral Palsy, an organization that helped his family after the birth of his daughter, Jessica, 21, who has cerebral palsy.

This year's auction brought the total raised over the years for UCP to more than $1 million.

Kaldes vowed that the auctions will continue and the Kaldes family will be back.

He and his wife, Stephanie, plan to spend the next seven weeks reminiscing with customers. After he locks the doors for the final time, probably Sept. 29, he'll be ready to begin the next chapter in his life.

If Kaldes knows what that is, he isn't saying. But he hinted that he'll be back -- somewhere. When asked if his next venture will involve hot dogs, he only smiled.

"It's amazing," he said. "All these years, all these times. You know everything has to end, hopefully on a good note."

Originally published online here: http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1186627228305170.xml&coll=1