Category:Hamilton Family Restaurant, Allentown, Pennsylvania

The Hamilton Family Restaurant is located at 2027 West Hamilton Street in Allentown.

The diner was origionally purchaced from the Fodero Dining Car Company of Newark, NJ as a pre-manufactured Diner. Known as the "Plain and Fancy Diner", It was assembled on the site in September, and opened on October 1st 1959. It operated successfully for several years, open 24 hours and serving the standard fare of diner cuisine.

In October 1968, the diner was sold to the Reading-based Dempsey Diner chain, and was renamed "Dempsey's Plain and Fancy Diner" at first, later "Dempsey's Restaurant" in 1969. Over the years, the Plain & Fancy, and later as Dempsey's, the diner became a favorite place for people to visit, after sports events at ASD stadium, or Cedar Beach, or in the evenings after concerts.

The diner remained in the Dempsey's chain for over 20 years, until changing hands in July 1993, being purchaced by Mike Tahos. Under its new owners, the name was changed to the "Hamilton Family Restaurant". Commonly called the "Ham-Fam", The restaurant was fully remodeled and expanded in 2004 with a 1,000 square foot addition to the dining room.

The Ham-Fam became a regular place for local Allentown politicians and celeberties during the 1990s. Beginning in 1994, after his retirement from politics, former Allentown Mayor Joseph Daddona hosted a local radio talk show from the restaurant called "Lehigh Valley Crossfire". The show was popular until he also retired from the program shortly before his passing in June 2004. In December 2009, President Obama stopped by the diner briefly, having some lunch during a visit to Allentown.

The restaurant continues to serve the patrons of Allentown and the local area today with fine food, open 24 hours a day, every day, offering breakfast at any time of the day or night.