ASHLEY — For Steve and Katie Biernacki, treating people like family has made for a successful business.
The Biernacki’s celebrated the 20th anniversary of their popular Ashley landmark, Kelsey’s Restaurant, on Thursday night with free finger food, a great atmosphere and the Wyoming Valley Pipe and Drum Band.
“We were at the right place,” Steve Biernacki said about his time in business.
The couple leased the old Gaughan’s Sports Bar on Main Street in 1996. They moved and expanded to the corner of Main and Cemetery Street in 2000. Since then, they’ve expanded no less than three times, adding a patio and a deck. The Biernackis bought the Goyne Insurance Agency Building recently and have added the “Blarney Room” to their business.
The restaurant can fit 150 people into the revamped place.
“It’s like the ‘Cheers’ of Ashley,” loyal patron Jim Thomas, of Hanover Township, said.
“Sometimes three times a week,” Thomas’ daughter, Sarah, said with a laugh.
The Thomas said they see Steve greeting everyone when they come in and when they leave.
Family Affair
Kelsey’s is a family run business, as three of the four Biernacki children are involved somehow. The fourth one “got her start” by helping out.
Daughter Tara waitresses; son Brian stays behind the ovens as a cook — but not a baker — and son Tim picks out the craft brews. Daughter Erin left the business to became a teacher, though she says being in a family restaurant business is “awesome.”
“We have our moments,” Steve Biernacki said about working with his family.
The name, Steve admits, came as a derivative from Kelcy’s Bar on the TV show ‘All in the Family.’
The restaurant has a 4.5 rating on Yelp.com and a 4.7 rating on Facebook. Because of its proximity to Interstate 81 and the high reviews, Steve said he’s had people come from all over.
Though he works in the kitchen, Brian said he knows people by their order.
“People are predictable,” he said.
In the same fashion, Thomas said his family isn’t even seated at a table and the staff at Kelsey’s have their drinks ready.
