The Lombardo family is hoping to get the Sam’s Pop & Beer Shop gang back together to celebrate its employees and customers of the last nearly 100 years.
The longtime Arnold business was sold last year by third-generation sibling owners Sandy (Lombardo) Danison, Sam Lombardo Jr. and Louis Lombardo.
Now that the dust has settled, the family would like to throw a party to show their appreciation to the community.
They used to hold a picnic for its employees each year, but they didn’t have one last year. Now they’re taking it a step further.
“It’s just something that we wanted to do as an appreciation to all of our customers, the community and everybody that’s ever worked here,” Danison said.
The family will hold a picnic from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 6 at Roosevelt Park in Arnold. They’ll serve hot dogs, hamburgers, side dishes and drinks.
Anyone who plans to come can contact Danison at 724-339-3018.
Danison said she will have old photos on display of the business and its employees over the years. Danison’s grandfather, Nunzio Lombardo, started the business in 1927, and her father, Sam Lombardo Sr., took it over when he retired.
She estimated they have had hundreds of employees, some of whom have gone on to have careers as doctors, lawyers and executives.
“When they were in high school, they got their start working here,” she said. “We’re kind of proud of that.”
She hopes many of them will come back and share stories about the business.
Danison said she and her siblings are happy with the business’s new owner, Terry Madden. Louis Lombardo still works there two days a week.
“He’s been so wonderful,” Danison said. “We’ve got a great relationship with him.”
Danison hopes having the picnic over the July 4 holiday weekend will help draw people because they’ll already be in town. She’s hoping to have T-shirts made to commemorate the event.
She said she’s not sure how many people to expect, but they’re preparing with 300 hot dogs and 300 hamburgers.
“What happens from there, happens from there,” she said.
