Fred and Annie “Jo” Howey probably had no idea when they started their restaurant that it would still be going strong sixty-seven years later, or that a third generation would own it. The Steak House, located at 29 Main Street, has been a mainstay in town since 1957. The current proprietors are Geoff Coffee and his wife, Christina, granddaughter of the original owners.

“We took over the reins from my parents, Dave and Barb Howey, in 2005,” Chris says. “They had bought the restaurant from Dave’s parents in 1979, and they were ready to move on to other ventures. It just seemed natural that we would be the next owners.”

She adds, “We were living in Northern Virginia, where Geoff is from, spinning our wheels, working two and three jobs, never seeing each other. We had two small children and knew we couldn’t keep this pace. So, we moved to Wellsboro, where I was raised.”

“We took what Barb and Dave had done and just built upon that,” Geoff says. “So many times with a new owner, they come in and make a lot of changes. We didn’t want to do that. We didn’t have to. They had a great foundation for us to continue.”

The original footprint consisted of the two front dining rooms. That changed when Barb and Dave—he grew up in the small apartment above—bought it. They converted the garage and parking spaces in the back into a third dining room. “We call it the ‘Tea Room,’” Chris explains, which pays homage to the Orange Tea Room that previously occupied this location.

Now, four outdoor tables allow folks to enjoy Main Street while dining.

Their menu offers a wide variety from which to choose. Besides steak and chicken, one can find some of the best seafood around, including lobster tails and scallops. On weekends, crab cakes, made by Geoff, and slow-roasted prime rib make the special feature list. The pies are from Chris’s grandmother’s recipes and may include English walnut and toasted coconut.

“It’s nice to be able to continue the family tradition in a small town like Wellsboro,” says Geoff. The Steak House is truly a family affair. Their son, Aidan, works both front and back of the house, as did their daughter, Jordyn, before moving out of state.

Hours are Monday through Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Call the Steak House at (570) 724-9092 to make a reservation or follow them on Facebook.