Sara’s Restaurant is one of Erie’s beloved summertime staples. Named after his mother, owner Sean Candela first opened Sara’s 46 years ago as an ice cream stand that evolved into a restaurant serving traditional summer favorites; burgers, hot dogs, homemade onion rings and curly fries, milkshakes, and soft-serve ice cream. For generations, Sara’s has remained a cherished Erie summer tradition for residents and visitors. VisitErie caught up with Sean recently to ask him some fun questions about his iconic restaurant.

How many hot dogs does Sara’s serve weekly?
The number fluctuates, but on average we will sell several thousand hot dogs each week, both regular-sized and foot-longs. Our hot dogs and kielbasa are Smith’s brand, made right here in Erie, and I think that adds to the appeal as well as the high demand.

How many pounds of potatoes does Sara’s go through in a week?
We can easily go through up to 300 cases of potatoes weekly. Each case weighs about 30 pounds and that equates to a whole lot of potatoes. Our curly fries are one of our more popular items. You can’t have a hot dog or a burger at Sara’s without fries!

How many flavors of soft serve and milkshakes do you offer?
For soft serve we keep it simple and offer just three types; peanut butter yogurt, chocolate/vanilla twist, and of course our best-seller, the orange/vanilla twist. We probably serve hundreds of those each week. Our milkshakes come in six flavors: hot fudge, strawberry, vanilla, black raspberry, chocolate, and peanut butter.

Do you have a favorite memory from Sara’s?
It’s every opening day because it’s such an exciting time to see everyone again. They’re happy to see us and we are too. Throughout the season, there are so many great memories that they are too numerous for me to pick just one. All the good people and the positive comments are things that really matter to me and keep me going over the years.

Do you have a favorite customer?
There’s a gentleman who drives in from Chautauqua, New York every year. He is there on the first day we open to welcome me and he is there on the last day of the season to say goodbye. I look forward to seeing him every year.

Do you have an employee who has been with you for a long time?
My manager, Bahea, has been with me for more than 26 years. She is indispensable and does an amazing job. I couldn’t do what we do at Sara’s without her by my side. We also are now seeing second-generation people working for us. Their parents worked for us and now their children are here working.

Is there anything you’d like to say to someone who has never been to Sara’s?
It’s our goal to make you smile. From the food to the nostalgic signage and characters, our fun photo cutouts, and the bright colors all around, we want you to have a good time when you’re here. We like to say food tastes better with a smile.

Sara’s is now in its 46^th year of operation. When asked if he is looking forward to its 50^th, Sean replied, “To be determined. I like taking things one year at a time.”

Explore Your Surroundings
Enhance your visit before or after Sara’s with a stop at nearby attractions including the beaches of Presque Isle State Park, the educational Tom Ridge Environmental Center, or Waldameer Park and Water World. Best of all, admission and parking to all of the above are free! Before you leave, be sure to check out the plethora of Erie souvenirs, beachwear, beach glass jewelry, water toys, and more at Beach Zero, located just before the entrance to Sara’s. For a complete list of things to do in the Erie region, click here.