What's going on with Packo's?

Looks ugly - I dislike their food and the last few times there did not enjoy it. I go with Rudy's these days and skip the Packo ego.

what do you mean, "the packo ego"?

Its a family battle that has been going on for many years. And from what I understand neither side should win.

Update: http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100819/BUSINESS03/8190305

I met Tony Jr once and he seemed very nice. That said, I have also heard horror stories of how they would argue (brother and sister) in front of the office staff, etc. Sad, something Toledo actually is known for that is/was a good thing may be going away over greed.

I'm with you OhioKimono. This bit of news may explain why our last few visits have been disappointing as well.

The fried pickles were still great but nothing else was - including the flat, lukewarm draft beer.

Sure hope someone turns things around. It would be very sad to see them disappear.

$20 for a meal for 2 people..that included a frozen sausage dog, and snippy staff. That is the summary of my last visit.

Pass.

Boy I hate to see this as well. I have been a regular for years. I prefer the Consaul location, and was very dissapointed when the Cake Walkers left... I hope they can survive but public family squabbles and overpriced weiners in a town full of really good "coney" dogs is a bad mix. Funny but last family visit was over $50 !family of 4....and it was real average food and not so good service.. (sylvania)...haven't been back

I really like the original location and often bring out of towners there. I get the same thing everytime... fried pickles to share with the table, and the combo with a dog, chili, and a side -- mac & cheese.

I'm going to miss that if it goes away.

I dont get how they can charge so much for hotdogs. Really...its just hot dogs.

Rudy's <3

My personal hot dog ranking
1. Nettys
2. Rudy's
3. Five Guys for the kosher
4. Dudley's
5. any place but Packos

The oft told tale of family businesses:

1st generation builds it
2nd generation maintains it
3rd generation destroys it

just for the record... it's not hot dogs that they are famous for, it's hungarian sausages. The hot dogs they sell are ok at best but the sausages are great in my opinion! Like toledolen_ i take all out of towners there, and everyone loves it. It's a shame so many of you have had bad experiences with them.

Packos rules. I ate five watching the Super Bowl several years ago.

Are their hungarian sausages still like eating a sausage wrapped in a rubber?

I don't eat the Packo dogs (don't eat most sausage in general, nothing specific against Packo's), but I do enjoy going to Packo's.

I've found other things on the menu that I like, & my husband loves to go for the Packo dogs.

Hopefully they are able to keep the business open - would be a shame to see a uniquely Toledo place like that go.

I gotta say... Back in the day, my Dad who was friends with Tony and the Packo family would take me in there for a hamberger for me and hot dog for him. That was back in the mid 50's when only the long bar was there. Tony was always happy to see us. I guess my Dad and him were pretty tight in the mid 30's when my Dad lived in the area. It was a great time. My Dad loved the ice cold beer there.

Bottom line is greed kills everything.

I don't even want to know how lameduck knows what a rubber tastes like.

I'm waiting for City Council to enact a "hotdog bailout."

It appears to be another case of a business getting to big for its britches. They leveraged themselves like crazy with the new locations, renovations and retail products and lost the cool atmosphere and service character that made them great. I miss the old restaurant that was too dark and not very attractive.

i think their world famous sausage dog went south years ago. i think they built their reputation using sausage made by the zychowicz family at stanley's market. once they became about exploiting the exposure from MASH and making big money, i have been told they went with a cheaper, less tasty sausage.

they waited until many others showed a location at the ballpark was a good idea and demanded the most help from the city to move there. they are over-priced, their portions are getting smaller, and have lost their friendliness (back at the old location before the expansion).

The oft told tale of family businesses:

1st generation builds it
2nd generation maintains it
3rd generation destroys it

Right on the mark, BAM2 !!!!

I work(ed) for another Toledo area firm that specialized in, lets say, information provided to other company's to assist in decision making (3 letters) that went the exact same way.

The original business name is totally gone, but a memory, and self-governance is a thing of the past...

frigus_veritas is that what happened to Food Town?
Packos makes the best roast beef in town!!! The hotdogs have changed over the years. I think they use a cheaper cut of meat. The brother and sister have fought for years. I remember back in the early eighties they were fighting. So it comes as no surprise to me.

Packo's roast beef sandwich with potatoes and gravy was very good.
I'd get it again.