Pe Wee’s Lunch
We have learned that Ellwood City has been home to hundreds of different businesses through the years but few have left an impression like Pe’Wee’s Lunch on Lawrence Avenue. The menu is hanging at the Ellwood City Historical Society above one of the unique spinning metal stools that lined the counter.
No matter what time of day or night you were hungry, Pe Wee’s was open. You walk in and can not help but notice the assorted variety of clientele sitting on the stools at the counter and you just look for an empty seat. If there were no empty seats, you just stood behind someone and the cook would take your order. Everyone had their favorites they would order; my personal order was usually three “yappers” with everything (mustard, onion, & chili) and a chili cheese hash brown. Wow, just saying that took me back in time. Not a lot needs to be said about Pe Wee’s Lunch as it seems that it is still one of the most memorable places Ellwood City has ever seen.
I am sure that you have a personal memory of Pe Wee’s that you would like to share. Please leave your story below, or email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com
I remember Pe’Wees very well. Still haven’t found a place in all of Los Angeles that can match their chili hot dogs. I remember going in there late at night or just getting them for dinner. The aroma was always great with the steam and how they wrapped the dogs. I took my daugher and granddaugher there in 1999 and my granddaugher asked what “pop” was. Here they say soda. I have the EC village piece of Pe’Wees. Mena(the owener in the 50′s) was always so nice. I think her daugher’s name was Penny. Good memories
My memory of Pe Wee’s is back to when I was just ten years old. Mena Gelles the owner of the shop
was my sponsor in the Soap Box Derby. I raced for her for three years in the derby. The first year on Line Ave and then over to Lawrence Ave. for two years.
The big bonus for racing for Pe Wee’s was Mena would give me two dozen Chilli Dogs after each event. I was
all the guys friend after the race.
And then the big thing when you got older was going out having a good time and ending up their about 2:00a/m . You could not find a seat at that time and the lines were long, but worth the wait.
Again there are probably four establishments everyone has a memory of who grew up in Ellwood City, Pe Wee’s, Johhny’s Pizza, Nick’s Snack Bar, and J&T Custard up on the hill. Also one Rock Idol, Donnie Iris who had the hit The Rapper with the Jaggerz as well as with Donnie and the Donnels and the Cruisers presently which I am listening to the CD Ellwood City as I am typing this, that I got in the mail about ten minutes ago.
Although you may grow up and leave, your memories are forever. God Bless Ellwood City!!
I grew up 2 doors down from Mena and Penny on Pittsburgh Circle and knew them both very well. My dad, who always pushed my brothers and I to be gentlemen, would have one of us take her groceries in, shovel her snow, be neighborly, etc. Not only was she great to talk to, but would always drop off some hot dogs to a few hungry boys as a thank you.
She had some crazy gilded decorations in that house too– and come to think of it had a huge raised sidewalk in front of her house that made a pretty good bike jump– probably not as impressive as my 7 year old memory of it:)
We were having a family reunion in Ellwood city. One day we
we had to go to “Pee Wees” for hotdogs. About
15 of us piled in there took every seat and standing room.
Ater a few minutes we did not want to swamp Mena and decided to
go somewhere else. In walked a black couple just as we all got up and left. I had to go back and explain to the couple what
was going on. They thanked me for for thinking of them.
Will hot dogs ever taste like Mena’s?I remember Gene Pander taking me there ’cause I didn’t have the money to go myself.Haven’t been in Ellwood since the steel mills closed in the early 70′s
Pee wees was great. When I go back to Ellwood I miss eating their. Mena, Dorthy, Dewy, Mirna, Penny, were all great just like the dos and burgs…..Lot of memories’
In the early 70s, my brother Pat and a bunch of friends often met at Pee Wee’s after a night of drinking and carousing to have a couple of chili dogs before going home. (We called them “curtain climbers”) Pee Wee’s was often packed and Pat was working the room going back and forth
behind the seated customers making fun of people and saying inane things to Mena like “does that dog nearest your armpit have extra salt on it?” (You’ll recall she used to stack dogs up her arm). Out of frustration, Mena said, “Pat would you please shut-up and take a seat?” Pat said, “Sure”, and walked over and lifted one of the stools from its base on the floor, walked out the door, drove home and planted it in our back yard. Written in the Ledger the next day under the “Hall of Shame” banner was: “The person who took one of the stools from Pee Wee’s” When my Mom read this, she realized where the strange object in the back yard came from, called Mena to apologize and ordered Pat to return it.
Pee Wee’s…I remember it as Pee Wee Lunch. As a “kid” it was a treat in the 50′s to get a hot dog on or before a movie at the Manos Theater. I left Ellwood City in 1959, returned for a short time in 1980, and enjoyed Pee Wee’s again.
Pee Wee’s ranks high in the hot dog culture hierarchy. So does the hot dog shop that was at the North end of the Fifth Street bridge. It was good to read Michael Shingleton’s “urban myth reference to “that dog nearest your armpit.” People who did not grow up in Ellwood City or Western Pennsylvania think you got to be kidding on the armpit comment. I moved to New Castle in 1959 and, when I reached driving age in 1962, me an my friends would go to the P.O. Lunch for chile dogs across from the Post Office. Honest engine, same comment, we’d say…”you get the one closest to his armpit – its got the best flavor.”
Pee Wee’s was the hot dog capital of my childhood world.
Many many memories from the very early 90′s in random list form: The great late-night food that was somehow so cheap. All-night bowling at Sims’ and then heading over to PeeWee’s for chili dogs and chili-and-cheese hashbrowns at 3:00 AM. God they were so good! The no swearing rule. The drunks
The one time we challenged this guy to drink buttermilk. The 13 tiny stools. The T-shirt that I really wish I still had that read “I survived a bowl of death and a nightmare at PeWee Lunch”. I still remember buying that. Cost $10. I was so proud lol. Maybe the best memory is how the chili was never exactly the same. One night it was a little more peppery; the next, not so much. Paying for your order by telling her what you ordered. Man that place was awesome.
This comment is to Michael Shingleton…. I was best friends with your sister-in-law Cindy Coughlin in highschool… we lost touch. I would love to contact her. …. Can you email her email address? Thanks. blonde8005@aol.com Michaelleene Wigton
To Long Lost Teenager: I still have my t-shirt from Pe Wee’s. It still looks new. I moved away in the early 80′s but everytime I came home, I had to stop at PeeWees. I also remember all the nights of going there after a night out with friends. When I tended bar I would stop there before going home for the night. The ladies working there always had a kind word for everyone and knew everyones name. I think they they knew everyone in town, if not by name then by sight. Those are the really good memories of growing up in a small town.
I started going to Pe Wee’s around 1948 when I went to Lincoln High. Lived in Florida and now in Oklahoma and
Haven’t found a hot dog to compare with Pe Wee’s, Believe
me I’v eaten them from Cape Cod to California and haven’t
had any that taste that good. Most of the people that lived
in Ellwood city feel the same.
Remember walking down Lawrence Ave, and smelling the chili sauce. Prices then were very reasonable for what you would get. Thinking of that sauce is making my mouth water, but nothing jn Hermatage compares to PEE WEE Lunch. Haven’t been there since the late 60s- early 70s.
Leah (Strouse) Rogan is right. Pink’s in Los Angeles is famous, but cannot compare in good taste to Pe Wee’s. The key is the chili. The only hot dog shop that was as good as Pe Wee’s was the P.O. Lunch. located across from the Post Office in New Castle. The key again was the chili. The price, the quality, the atmosphere (loved that screen door) made Pe Wee’s the best hot dog shop…ever.
Graduated Lincoln in 1961. Enjoyed many meals here. My favorites were hot dogs and chile.
I graduated in 1961 and all through high school, I ate many meals and enjoyed them all. My favorites were hot dogs and chile. Great memories.
I remember Pee Wees very well. Anytime day or night. It was a treat just to watch Minna put 10 or 12 hot dogs up her arm and never drop any. The flavor of those will never be matched.
ALTHOUGH I DIDNT GO INTO PEEWEES A LOT I WORKED RIGHT NEXT DOOR AT AMERICAN FINANCE FOR 5 YEARS. I DO REMEMBER TALKING TO MENA AS WE WERE COMING AND GOING. EVERY ONE I KNOW BRAGGED ABOUT THEIR HOT DOGS AND IT WAS THE PLACE TO GO LATE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NITES. ESPECIALLY THE GUYS.