Landmark Restaurant is a comfortable place with comfort food

By Kalea Hall

khall@vindy.com

BOARDMAN

Landmark Restaurant is a comfortable place with comfort food.

It’s the place where old friends go to meet over coffee, eggs and bacon.

The proprietors of the establishment venture to say that’s why The Vindicator’s readers voted it as one of the best restaurants in the Mahoning Valley through a social media poll.

“We are people persons,” said Chuck Prystash, co-owner of Landmark at 7424 Market St., directly across from Southern Park Mall; and also 109 S. Meridian Road. “We treat customers like family. We joke around with them.”

“They feel comfortable coming here,” added Peggie Prystash, Chuck’s wife and co-owner of the business.

On a busy morning at Landmark’s Boardman location, a group of gentlemen await for “their” table to open up.

They often come to Landmark on Wednesdays for the coffee and the conversation. The conversation ebbs and flows from politics to sports and maybe some local gossip.

It’s a comfortable atmosphere with good coffee, good food and good service – the waitresses and waiters here know to have certain tables ready for certain guests. The servers also remember the orders for their usual customers.

“It’s the hospitality,” Bob Stefko of Poland says why the group enjoys Landmark.

“They have good breakfast,” added Bob Sherwood of Boardman. Landmark is a mostly breakfast and lunch joint.

Chuck and his late stepfather, Donald Folkwein, decided to go into the restaurant business together back in the early 2000s.

Chuck was a machinist by trade, and his stepfather was the retired chief executive of an aluminum company.

“He was getting a little itchy to do something,” Chuck said. “I wanted to get out of the tool and dye business.”

Chuck settled on opening a restaurant, and Donald told him to get a job at a restaurant to learn the ins and outs of the business, so he did.

In 2003, the two bought the Boardman Landmark location and started their family restaurant.

The goal from the start was to have good food at decent prices that a family could easily afford.

“We had to build [the business] up quite a bit,” Peggie said.

In 2004, the second Landmark location opened up.

Two years into the business, Donald died, but Chuck, along with his late mother, Diane Folkwein, wife and son, CJ Prystash, continued on.

“My mom liked to bring back comfort food,” Chuck said.

Diane, who died in January, would make homemade soups and meatloaf.

Meanwhile, Chuck managed the restaurant with Peggie’s help, and CJ was in the back washing dishes.

It was and still is a family affair at Landmark.

“We are the Cheers without the beers,” Chuck said.

Eventually, the dinner crowd grew too small to keep the restaurant open later than 3 p.m.

The heavy focus on breakfast has earned Landmark bragging rights on their bacon.

“We have the best bacon around,” Chuck said.

Landmark also is known for its healthy supply of doughnuts, which are made fresh at the Austintown location.

“We have people come through to get some on their way to South Carolina,” Peggie said. “I have people who mail them.”

The Prystashes take one day at a time at their business, making sure every cup of coffee is filled, booth is ready and bacon is cooked just so.

“We don’t do it for the recognition,” Peggie said. “It’s nice to know people appreciate it.”