When it comes to Philadelphia icons, no one takes the cheesesteak like Tony Luke, Jr. Born and bred in South Philly, Tony is a jack of all trades with impressive credentials, from international restaurateur to actor; sports reporter to songwriter and producer. He is set to judge on Spike TV’s upcoming original series, Frankenfood, in which executive chef Josh Capon travels cross country in a competition that tests challengers to utilize outrageous and unexpected ingredients. We heard from Tony on what to expect on the new series (set to air Spring 2014), the expansion of his franchise in the Middle East and Africa, and thoughts on getting back to the big screen!
Philly PR Girl: You are a man with many talents, all of which are incredibly diverse. When each of these different ventures were just starting out, were you confident that success would be easy to come by?
Tony Luke Jr: I never thought success would be easy, I knew I would have to work for it. You never know what will be a hit or miss, so you have to strive to be the best you can be and love what you do. Keeping Tony Luke’s successful has been a combination of being loyal to customers, consistent quality and always giving 110%.
PPRG: Tony Luke’s has recently gone international with a franchise in the Kingdom of Bahrain. How did you come to choose the Middle East and North Africa as the sites for your expansion, and how is the roll-out for your 60 new locations coming along?
TL: Our partnership with Rastelli Foods enabled us to expand into Bahrain. Rastelli’s has an ongoing relationship with the Middle East and distributing products there. I believe cheesesteaks are one of America’s iconic sandwiches, so what a great fit to share with another country! It seems like we are opening a new store every month; most recently Tony Luke’s opened in the Deptford Mall, Philadelphia International Airport and The Gardens Mall in Florida.
PPRG: Are you entertaining the idea of acting and performing in the future, or has reality TV become your new calling?
TL: I like to keep my options open; in fact I have just finished a new script that I hope will go into production in a few months. I love scripted film, reality TV and I have done a few cooking shows prior to Frankenfood. I never limit myself to one thing.
PPRG: Speaking of reality TV, what can we expect from SPIKE TV’s upcoming competitive cooking show Frankenfood, for which you’ll be a judge?
TL: You can expect to be informed and entertained! Frankenfood is where I believe cooking or food based reality shows need to go. I love food shows, but it seems to all be recycled content. Expect chefs and regular kitchen gurus to create foods you have never heard of but want to try.
PPRG: As an entrepreneur, what is the most difficult challenge you have faced throughout your career?
TL: I’m going to quote my father, Tony Luke Sr. for this: “the road success is paved with detours”. The most difficult thing I have faced, and any entrepreneur will agree with me, is that things will never go according to plan. It is also a challenge getting others to be as passionate as you are, success is never yours and it’s hard to be successful without people behind you. The Tony Luke’s team is what made Tony Luke’s successful.
PPRG: We see you judging and hosting events quite often in Philadelphia. How do you pick and choose which events and fundraisers to support?
TL: I always look for something that will make a difference in someone’s life and for opportunities to help others succeed. I don’t really pick and choose events and fundraisers to support- if I get asked to help and I can offer my time, I almost always say yes.
PPRG: Is it safe to say that the cheesesteak is your favorite food?
TL: As sacrilegious as this is for me to say, pizza is actually my favorite food. Cheesesteaks and Roast Pork Italians are a close second, though.
