Family Friendly Front Street Fountain to Open in Media

Media native Pat Hanway remembers that growing up, his parents would often reminisce about the good ol’ days of Media’s downtown.

"My dad grew up on Jackson Street and mom grew up on Monroe," Hanway explained. "They always talked about how there were seven or eight working soda fountains in Media when they were growing up."

Hanway is now bringing that tradition back to his hometown: his family-friendly restaurant will open Thursday on West Front Street. From the restaurant’s retro colors to the model trolley that runs along the perimeter of the main dining area, Front Street Fountain definitely evokes the feel of an old-fashioned soda fountain.

"I grew up here, and after I had my daughter, I was looking for a fun place we could go in the borough of Media where kids were welcome—where it was geared more towards kid than parents," Hanway said.

From an entire grilled cheese menu to a giant chalkboard kids can draw on while waiting for their meals, Front Street Fountain is exactly that kind of place. Kids are welcome and celebrated, to the extent that one of the restaurant’s rooms is designated for use for children’s birthday parties and cartoon mascots Frank and Patty adorn the walls.

However, Hanway also recognizes that the restaurant’s proximity to the courthouse makes it a potential hot spot for lunch break traffic.

"We’re also focusing on the business crowd," Hanway said. "We have a coffee bar and takeout counter in front featuring grab-and-go items like premade salads and sandwiches."

The lunch and dinner menu includes sandwiches and burgers, and an impressive selection of fries—10 different types, including taco fries and "Irish fries" that are covered with corn beef and Swiss cheese—a nod to Hanway’s Irish heritage. Breakfast items, Hanway said, are typical fare like pancakes, house-made Belgian waffles and breakfast burritos. Menu items range from $4 to $8.75. 

The restaurant will also sell 12 different flavors of ice cream and classic drinks like milkshakes and ice cream sodas, all made with ice cream from Bassetts—another long-standing family company.

Front Street Fountain is Hanway’s first venture into restaurant ownership, though he is no stranger to the business. He spent about seven years working as a cook, then went to Widener University for hospitality management, he said. He met his wife while working at the Windrift Hotel in Avalon, New Jersey.

"My grilled cheeses are what I think actually formed our relationship," Hanway joked.

So what role will Hanway take on at the restaurant?

"I will be the man of many hats," Hanway said. "On any given day, you’ll find me scooping ice cream or busing tables. (Recently), me and my cousin were in the hotdog and hamburger mascot costumes. I have a philosophy that every boss has to do each job at least once—and it was actually a lot of fun!"

The restaurant's grand opening, Hanway said, is going to be a three-day extravaganza. All day on Thursday, Front Street Fountain  features food and ice cream specials. On Friday from 6 to 8 p.m., a balloon artist will be visiting, along with mascots Frank and Patty.

On Saturday, activities include an Easter Bunny breakfast at which kids 10 and under will eat free if they come in their pajamas. Later in the day, expect visits from a face painter, Eagles mascot Swoop and a caricaturist. For more details, visit Front Street Fountain’s website or check out them out on Twitter (@fsfountain), which they will be updating each day with food specials and soups of the day.

Front Street Fountain, located at 1 W. Front Street, Media, is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. The restaurant seats 82, with 20 additional outside seats available. Municipal parking is abundant in addition to the restaurant's eight-space parking lot.