LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Meet the TOP DOGS of Rehoboth Avenue |
When it comes to surroundings, Peter Stipa and Matt Rydznski have gone from the peaceful valley to a carnival. Well, not literally, but close enough.
Peter and Matt, former owners of Stipa's, a 110-seat Italian Restaurant in Conshohocken, PA are the new owners of Top Dog at 8 Rehoboth Avenue, just off the Boardwalk. With it's rainbow colored sign, antique mirrors and French art posters on the walls, this is not your grandmother's hot dog and funnel-cake storefront. "It's a whole new thing for us," says Peter, noting that Matt made a record 367 Funnel Cakes on a recent Saturday night. Having spent 19 years in Conshohocken ("It means peaceful valley. Really" says Matt) catering to the sit-down dinner crowd, doing business at the boardwalk is like "well, a carnival," he says. The guys had been vacationing in Rehoboth for the past five years, and just like so many other area business owners, they loved the place so much they decided to make the area home. They live in Long Neck, but come into town every day to work at Top Dog. Taking ownership of the shop last October to get the feel of the business, Matt and Peter experienced the Sea Witch Festival, and some lovely and busy fall weekends before closing for the season. Then, the real work began. They gutted the tiny storefront restaurant, brought in state-of-the-art equipment and had a wild time decorating. No run-of-the-mill posters hereit's classy stuff. "We couldn't have done it without our friends help," says Matt. "Everybody pitched in and helped with painting, preparing, cooking, you name it." Their friend Diane, whose smiling face can now be seen behind the counter dispensing everything from the signature Top Dogs to the sinfully dipped apples "was just the biggest help" says Peter. "Oh, and Matt's sister Joanie and our friend Jim Flack...well, we couldn't have done it without them." Then, once the interior was finished, they changed the menu. In addition to the dogs and drinks that Top Dog used to offer, they now serve breakfast sandwiches, Cheese Steaks, salads, all kinds of hot dogs, those classic funnel cakes and some awesome candy apples. "We call them Ms.Thing's Apples" says Peter, pointing to Matt. As for getting to know folks in town, the guys are delighted that so many area merchants have been so helpful, giving them information about when things will be busiest, when there will be slower times, and what to expect. Customers, too are finding out about the changes at Top Dog and dropping by to meet the new proprietors. "The community here is so great," says Peter. "But we still didn't expect quite this craziness" says Matt, looking out at the boardwalk with its mobs of peopleincluding the line out front for the funnel cakes. Hurry! Hurry! Get your Ms. Thing's Candy Apples! |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 11, No. 9, July 13, 2001. |