Our Story
A warm, family-owned Ellet icon — where every plate is generous and every guest is welcome.
The Lampost has been a beacon on East Market Street since the 1960s — a historic 24-hour diner where shift workers, families, and night owls have always found a warm seat and a bigger plate than they expected. When Tony Jaber took the reins, he brought a lifetime of restaurant know-how from growing up in his father's kitchen at Eli's Steakhouse to building Akron favorites like Firehouse Grille & Pub and Roma's Pizzeria.
Lebanon-born and Akron-raised, Tony knew exactly what his blue-collar customer base needed: honest food, giant portions, and prices that keep folks coming back four times a week instead of once a month. When the original location couldn't keep up with the post-bar rush, he moved The Lampost to its current home at 2146 East Market Street — preserving every bit of that classic diner culture along the way.
Today, the entire Jaber family is all hands in. Kids work the floor and manage operations. Tony's 88-year-old mother still makes the soups, cabbage rolls, and stuffed peppers from scratch. Employees who started as teenagers now bring their own children to help. It's not just family by blood — the kitchen crew is treated like family too.
After a temporary closure, The Lampost joyfully reopened with round-the-clock service once again. The checkered floors, red vinyl booths, teal walls, and chrome accents are all still here. So is the promise: whether it's 6 AM or 3 AM, our light is always on for you.
