Category:1500 Union Boulevard, Allentown, Pennsylvania

The first known buisness at the site dates to March, 1960 as "Buddy's Beefburgers". Buddy's was unique at the time, because his hamburgers were flame broiled and not made on a grill as most were back then. The owner pulled off a bit of a coup in 1960, as he outbid McDonalds for the lot he built Buddy's on, and Roy Kroc had to build his 2nd McDonalds restraunt in Allentown accross the street, to the west of the Frolics Ballroom, which was just accross Union Boulevard from Buddy's.

Buddy's was successful for a number of years, selling burgers, and also other short-order fast food as well. However the buisness closed in November 1968 and the building was put up for sale. About a year later, in October 1969, Gino's pizza at 12th and Chew opened up a second location on the east side at the former Buddy's Beefburgers. It was a little different than his pizza shop on Chew Street, as the Union Boulevard location was known as "Mama Gino's Big Spaghetti Restraunt", and specialized more in Italian food, rather than just pizza as the main location did. Gino's lasted for a couple of years on Union Boulevard before closing in the summer of 1971.

The buisness was again vacant for about two years until the spring of 1973, when the restraunt became Allentown's first "Arthur Treachers Fish & Chips" shop. It was successful for a number of years, and the chain opened up several more locations around Allentown. In fact even today, the old Arthur Treachers sign remains along Union Boulevard in front of the restaurant. However Arthur Treacher, who was a British actor known promantly in the US as Merv Griffin's announcer and on-stage companion on Merv's daytime television talk show, passed away in 1975. His restraunt chain lasted a few years longer until filing for bankrupsy in 1980.

In 1981, Willy-Joe's opened a satellite store at the location selling hot dogs, but it was only open for a few years. A chinese restraunt took it over in 1984 and since then, it has been a succession of oriental restraunts. A Thai restraunt operates from it today.