Eazer's still feeding New Kensington after 100 years

When Kathryn Ladd first moved to New Kensington in 2000, she was skeptical about Eazer's Restaurant & Deli.

"I refused to come here when I first moved here because it didn't look right," Ladd said. "I was used to going to certain types of places."

Eventually, through a girlfriend's urging, the 60-year-old ventured into the downtown eatery at 420 Seventh St.

She ended up falling in love with it, and has been going there ever since.

"The people are just awesome," she said.

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Eazer's was founded by Kareem Eazer Corbin, a Syrian immigrant, in 1918, and has been in the same family — and pretty much the same location, give or take a few blocks — for generations.

It turned a century old this year — something that current manager Art Elias Corbin never really planned on.

"We stuck around because we felt we had to stay here," said Corbin, 37, of New Kensington. "We had keep it going. We were dedicated to this business, to the workers, to the customers.

"Next thing you know, it was 100 years."

The business started as an ice cream parlor and confectionery. It also spent time as a grocery store and deli, but shifted its focus to the restaurant once bigger grocery chains began to pop up.

"The small grocer is not in the picture anymore," Corbin said. "The main thing is the restaurant."

Corbin's dad, Arthur Eazer Corbin, took over the business when Kareem Eazer Corbin retired in 1950.

Corbin said customers affectionately referred to his dad as "Abe Vigoda" from the television shows "Barney Miller" and "Fish."

"He had the bushy eyebrows and the hunched back," Corbin said. "I have his picture on the wall."

Arthur Eazer Corbin died in 2009.

So Corbin, his sister, Sarah Campos; his aunt, Helene Corbin; and his mom, Georgette Corbin, have been manning the helm ever since.

Corbin credits the restaurant's longevity to his family, its relationship with customers and its food.

"Everybody knows that the town has gone through hell. We managed to stick with it all this time because me and my sister volunteered to stick with it and tried to keep it going," Corbin said. "It probably would have died with my father and mother if it had been left just to him when he passed away. I try to keep up with things.

"We have people come in, they haven't been to town for 30 years, and they come in here crying, 'You're still here! This is the only thing that's left of New Kensington.'

"We're like the last remaining vestige ... everything else is gone, pretty much.

"We're like the last man standing."

Frequent customer Jeff Cheatham worked at Eazer's when he was younger. He said the most remarkable thing about the restaurant is that people will come back to make good on skipped checks.

"I've seen them come in and pay those bills — 'I owe you from 30 years ago,'" said Cheatham, 64, of New Kensington. "They come here and get the sandwich, and I guess they feel guilty ... and not once or whatever, you see it all the time.

"I think that's great."

Ladd travels around the country often but, when she is home, she eats at Eazer's at least three times a week. She said the best thing about coming back to New Kensington is knowing she can go to Eazer's.

"My 12-year-old granddaughter, she lives in Maryland — she'll say, 'Granny, are you going to Eazer's when you go home?'" Ladd said with a chuckle. "You know that's bad. She knows I'm headed over here. I can't help it."

Eazer's serves soup, sandwiches and breakfast items, but it's mainly known for its "Eazer Burger," a double cheeseburger served on homemade Syrian bread. People also like the Shangkleesh, which is a spicy Syrian cheese.

The restaurant does have hamburger buns, but most customers enjoy the Syrian bread, which is unique to New Kensington, Corbin said. The same woman has been making the diner's Syrian bread for more than 50 years.

"For some reason, New Kensington is synonymous with Syrian bread. I don't know why," Corbin said. "Nowhere else you'll find Syrian bread. You can go to Florida, California, people can't get it. We're not the only ones that sell it — there's other people in town — but you won't find it very many other places."

Corbin doesn't know the exact anniversary of the business, but said he will likely offer some meal deals and raffles this summer to celebrate turning a century old.

The restaurant also will be getting a commemorative plaque.

Ladd, who stopped by the restaurant for tea and soup recently, was surprised to hear that it turned 100 years old. She said that is a testament in itself.

"They're just really sweet people, they really are," she said.

Corbin said the restaurant plans to stick around as long as it can.

"As long as we still got customers, we'll stay here," Corbin said. "We just feel dedicated to the town, the customers. The customers make it worth it."

Madasyn Czebiniak is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-226-4702, mczebiniak@tribweb.com, or on Twitter @maddyczebstrib.