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Matthew R. Clark
Lock Haven
If you missed the Fox's Market House Restaurant Great Gatsby Gathering cosponsored by the Clinton County Economic Partnership, we'll pass along some fun facts! Did you know Fox's serves as many as 500 people a day?
We named the recent event a gathering because our prominent building was constructed in 1868 to operate a farmer's market. The building, completed in only six months and dubbed as The Gathering Place, became a "hub" of activity in the city's early days. Farmers from the area leased inside spaces to sell provisions.
Here are a few things our guests enjoyed during their tour. 1920's fun, canapes, spirits and live music of the roaring twenties, beaded necklaces, pearl bracelets and imprinted mugs with dinner discounts. "Flapper guests" received embroidered historical Clinton County throws! The band and staff wore 1920s accessories and the guest's period outfits were especially appreciated.
Visitors toured the kitchen annex, our new walk-in freezer and cooler and modern facilities. Few restaurants purchase a walk-in refrigeration unit, however, it allows Fox's to safely store large amounts of food, buy in bulk to keep menu prices down, maintain a well-organized operation and to meet strict health department rules.
Small "mom & pop" restaurants often take "short cuts" to operate what they perceive is a simple business, while exposing diners to botulism, E. Coli and salmonella poisoning. Perhaps our visitors noticed the new "behind the scenes facility" with a break area for our 20 Team Members, management office, staff restrooms, receiving area and large storage rooms.
Billy Honetor, who began his career as a dishwasher at Fox's nine years ago, was recently named General Manager to supervise the operation. Our restaurant enjoys a reputation for being a preferred destination for local servers as we provide uniforms, training and staff support -- also unavailable in smaller operations that sadly, have been closing their doors or reducing hours of operation.
The Market House is a big building so guests were given a tour of newly remodeled office spaces on the second level that are ready to occupy for 1/3 of local rental rates!
Folks really enjoyed the many antiques and 1929 Oldsmobile with Lucky Loganton and his Tommy Gun in the back seat. It allowed guests to experience prohibition times and gangster days of the twenties. The car was operated by Clinton County bootlegger Prince Farrington to transport locally-brewed liquor to other states.
People were taken aback with the 160-foot basement corridor, partitioned on either side with 22 arched ceiling food and grain rooms! Yesteryear, products were hoisted through floor openings into horse-pulled wagons waiting inside the building.
"Before and after" photographs depicted the old Market House and its transformation into the area's leading family restaurant.
Our guests loved the old wooden market house pig that squeals, Stearns Department Store Penny Scale, Lancaster Amish buggy, Piper Cub replica, candy cane chair, M&M man, Sinclair gas pump and memories from Lock Haven's Good Old Days.
But behind it all, in our kitchen and prep rooms, they discovered the heartbeat of Fox's.
With an experienced Chef and dedicated staff, we strive to acquire only fresh ingredients, monitor how dishes are made and carefully use just the right ingredients and textures.
Our goal is to make certain that when your food arrives, there will be a reward of pride and joy for our staff. We all feel a rush of excitement when flavors match the vision in our head -- and when guests are satisfied with their plate.
It's not about buildings and history, it's about people. People and their pride. Sometimes we may be a bit slow. But when your food comes through those kitchen doors, we know that we've done our best and we also know the menu price is fair. It's a rewarding business.
We've now been here for 35 years since Mr. and Mrs. Poorman opened the doors. And unlike many "mom & pop" operations, we're open when you're hungry. Stop and visit us sometime!
Matthew Clark is executive chef at Fox's Markethouse Restaurant.