On June 5, owner Billy Kaldes and his father, Jimmy, will celebrate The Spot’s 60th anniversary in Harrisburg. As start up businesses come and go so quickly these days, sixty years is a significant achievement. But what’s more than a 60th birthday for a restaurant is the fact that the restaurant began and remains a family-owned and -operated business since it opened in 1939. It has survived good times and bad — from World War II and the Korean War to the floods of 1972 and 1996. Come hell or high water, The Spot has remained.

“Back in 1939, hot dogs were five cents. My father used to sell them two for eight cents,” Billy recalls. “He would work 16 or 17 hours a day and make $8 to $12 a week.” An old photo on the wall shows the original Spot as a simple lunch counter surrounded by 13 stools.

The history of this local icon began when Billy’s great-uncles, George and James Belehas, opened The Spot on Market Square in Harrisburg. Jimmy began working for his uncles upon his return from World War II, managing the restaurant while they tended to their other businesses: the Pep Grill, The Hill Café, The Forum Restaurant, and Peanut Joe’s. After several years of management, he became part owner of The Spot and brought young Billy into the business in 1959 at the young age of ten. When his uncles passed away, Jimmy became full owner. Even today at the age of 83, Jimmy still reports to work every morning, just as he has for last 60 years.

Jimmy’s love for the business has been contagious, and many former Spot employees opened their own restaurants in Harrisburg. The Spot was the launching pad for The State Restaurant’s Chris Harbilas, Tony Ricki of Nick’s 1014, Nick Mabropoulos of Angie’s Trailers Diners, Dennis the Hot Dog King from the Lower Allen Shopping Center, and Jimmy of the Hot Dog King at the corner of 7th and Division. And before returning to The Spot full time a few years ago, Billy ran Zembie’s just a block and a half up the street.

The Spot’s original home was at 10 North Second Street, where City Hall currently stands. At that time, The Senate movie theater was across the square at Dauphin Deposit’s current location, and Valley Transportation across the street where the Hilton calls home. The Spot’s name fit its location. “I don’t know why it was named The Spot — I don’t think anybody knows to be honest, but downtown Harrisburg was a good place to be,” Billy says. At that time there was a lot of activity on the square from the theater and trolley transfer station. The restaurant did very well and expanded twice before moving to its current location in February of 1979.

Jimmy became full owner of the restaurant in 1989 after his uncles passed away. “It’s amazing how kind Harrisburg has been to The Spot, my father and me,” Billy confesses. And they’ve been good to Harrisburg in return. Billy recalls when homeless drifters would come in without a penny in their pockets for food. “My father would feed them and they wouldn’t pay him for months,” he notes. Jimmy’s kindness was never forgotten as he was always repaid in the end. “We feed everyone, from Governor Ridge to the street person,” Billy states. That kindness has helped Billy’s great-uncles, his father, and now him build The Spot to be what it is today.

Every morning, Billy’s father comes to work to make the day’s soups and chili. “He makes a chicken orzo that I’d put up against any four-star restaurant,” Billy states excitedly. “His chili is a homemade secret,” referring to the famous concoction used in tandem with mustard and onion to make the original one-up “Spot Dog.” The recipe is such a secret that it’s shared by Billy and his father alone. He says when his father stops making soup at The Spot, his wife will take over. “My wife is a great cook, but even she can’t beat my father’s soups,” he laughs.

Today, although his father is still very involved in the restaurant, Billy is the man behind the counter grilling hot dogs or frying eggs like his family did before him. “Things are good,” he says. “We’re looking forward to the millennium and hopefully another 15 to 30 years.” As Billy approaches his 50th birthday this fall, he hopes to one day be able to pass The Spot on to his eldest daughter, who is now a freshman at Penn State. “I’m not sure what she wants to do,” he says. “I think she wants to be a teacher. But if she wanted to open a Spot in State College, I’d be right behind her.”

The positive memories and hopes for the future are why Billy plans to celebrate The Spot’s 60th anniversary with the public. From 10am to 6pm on June 5, The Spot will swell onto its sidewalk selling 60-cent hot dogs, hamburgers, sodas, and french fries to commemorate the event. There will be a hot dog eating contest, clowns, music, t-shirts, mugs, and other fun and entertainment for the family to enjoy. (The winner of the hot dog eating contest will advance to a championship “eat off” of sorts in Reading representing the Harrisburg Senators and The Spot to compete against winners from other Eastern League teams.)