The Story of Tolliver and Poe and Luzon Station
In 1897 Randolph Tolliver and Alexander Poe, two young men from the hamlet of Cohoonzie, in Sullivan County, decided to find new worlds to conquer. They had attended a small one-room school house, held odd jobs and grew up to be ambitious young men who concluded that there was more for them than their rural hamlet had to offer.
At eighteen years of age they left the rustic Delaware River village, with no money, small belongings and high hopes they commenced their journey of noble expectations. Two years later, with but meager earnings and no great success they found themselves jobs in the stockyards of Chicago.
They grew up, they grew strong, and they grew wise. Confined to a dismal and unpleasant workplace and subjected to a joyless occupation with little hope for monetary growth or advancement they left the stockyards; but not Chicago. Through a fortunate act of providence their lives changed. While eating in a small diner near their boarding house in downtown Chicago, a fortunate sequence of events occurred.
The man and wife, owners of the diner were pleasant, friendly and had established a loyal clientèle. The food was simple but good. The two young men worked at odd jobs and spent their evening hours at the establishment, conversing with the proprietors. Through casual conversation they were unknowingly gathering knowledge of the operations procedures, practices, ways and means of the little, homey eatery.
Three months after their first visit to the comfortable diner the husband was killed in an untimely accident. Their brief encounter with him and his wife had established a pleasant and amiable relationship. Upon learning of his death they visited the diner but found it closed. The two young men sought out the widow and extended their condolences. She was terribly distraught and told them that she was leaving to return to her family in Oklahoma and offered the restaurant to them. Not having much money they suggested a small down payment with a promise to send the balance in small installments. She liked them, trusted them, and accepted their offer.
In time with dedication and perseverance it became a paradigm of dining excellence, a culinary legend, and not only in Chicago. Through word of mouth it grew in small but successful stages. Not long after it was known to all circles where gourmands gathered, along with those who enjoyed food that was tempting, savory, provocative and supremely delightful to the palate. All were offered and served in a friendly and warm climate of comfortable surroundings.
Our first restaurant,Tolliver and Poe, was created as an upscale restaurant in Monticello, New York. It was a huge mistake in judgment. The quiet hamlet of Hurleyville was more in tune with Randolph Tolliver and Alexander Poe's original vision, and so we moved and gave birth to Luzon Station, Eatery and Saloon. The name was changed and chosen to honor the original name of the whistle stop on the O&W Railroad in which the restaurant was located. After months of hard work we opened quietly with little fan-fair. We were very well received and were happy with our success.
In 2004 we lost our lease and were forced to close our doors for good. It was a home away from home for so many, The decision to close was one of the hardest we've ever made, but as is said " everything happens for a reason".
And so...six years later with no plans to re-open another restaurant and feeling strongly that we could never re-invent what we had created in Hurleyville, we stumbled into Kauneonga Lake. A new and exciting strip in Sullivan County that takes you into another world. We found an energy that we felt very drawn to and a community that we wanted to be a part of. So jumping in with both feet and a lot of praying...we re-opened our beloved Luzon Station Eatery and Saloon.
We hope that we can be all that you expect us to be and more. Our desire is to create a warm inviting atmosphere where the food has the "Delicious Factor". Come see us and enjoy a cocktail, friendly conversation, great music and a meal that is just delish!
And so, in their honor and with our sincere respect for their resolve and high-principled professionalism we re-confirm and re-establish their excellence and their estimable and praiseworthy reputation.
We hope we can please you, as they would expect us to do.
Jonathan and Patti Sunshine
At eighteen years of age they left the rustic Delaware River village, with no money, small belongings and high hopes they commenced their journey of noble expectations. Two years later, with but meager earnings and no great success they found themselves jobs in the stockyards of Chicago.
They grew up, they grew strong, and they grew wise. Confined to a dismal and unpleasant workplace and subjected to a joyless occupation with little hope for monetary growth or advancement they left the stockyards; but not Chicago. Through a fortunate act of providence their lives changed. While eating in a small diner near their boarding house in downtown Chicago, a fortunate sequence of events occurred.
The man and wife, owners of the diner were pleasant, friendly and had established a loyal clientèle. The food was simple but good. The two young men worked at odd jobs and spent their evening hours at the establishment, conversing with the proprietors. Through casual conversation they were unknowingly gathering knowledge of the operations procedures, practices, ways and means of the little, homey eatery.
Three months after their first visit to the comfortable diner the husband was killed in an untimely accident. Their brief encounter with him and his wife had established a pleasant and amiable relationship. Upon learning of his death they visited the diner but found it closed. The two young men sought out the widow and extended their condolences. She was terribly distraught and told them that she was leaving to return to her family in Oklahoma and offered the restaurant to them. Not having much money they suggested a small down payment with a promise to send the balance in small installments. She liked them, trusted them, and accepted their offer.
In time with dedication and perseverance it became a paradigm of dining excellence, a culinary legend, and not only in Chicago. Through word of mouth it grew in small but successful stages. Not long after it was known to all circles where gourmands gathered, along with those who enjoyed food that was tempting, savory, provocative and supremely delightful to the palate. All were offered and served in a friendly and warm climate of comfortable surroundings.
Our first restaurant,Tolliver and Poe, was created as an upscale restaurant in Monticello, New York. It was a huge mistake in judgment. The quiet hamlet of Hurleyville was more in tune with Randolph Tolliver and Alexander Poe's original vision, and so we moved and gave birth to Luzon Station, Eatery and Saloon. The name was changed and chosen to honor the original name of the whistle stop on the O&W Railroad in which the restaurant was located. After months of hard work we opened quietly with little fan-fair. We were very well received and were happy with our success.
In 2004 we lost our lease and were forced to close our doors for good. It was a home away from home for so many, The decision to close was one of the hardest we've ever made, but as is said " everything happens for a reason".
And so...six years later with no plans to re-open another restaurant and feeling strongly that we could never re-invent what we had created in Hurleyville, we stumbled into Kauneonga Lake. A new and exciting strip in Sullivan County that takes you into another world. We found an energy that we felt very drawn to and a community that we wanted to be a part of. So jumping in with both feet and a lot of praying...we re-opened our beloved Luzon Station Eatery and Saloon.
We hope that we can be all that you expect us to be and more. Our desire is to create a warm inviting atmosphere where the food has the "Delicious Factor". Come see us and enjoy a cocktail, friendly conversation, great music and a meal that is just delish!
And so, in their honor and with our sincere respect for their resolve and high-principled professionalism we re-confirm and re-establish their excellence and their estimable and praiseworthy reputation.
We hope we can please you, as they would expect us to do.
Jonathan and Patti Sunshine
