Breaking Bread Grand Opening

A waffle iron is to Sam Kelly as glass slippers are to Cinderella. The purchase of her waffle iron, along with her passion for cooking, is what inspired Sam to open up a new restaurant in Ellwood City.

With a little help from her “fairy god-husband” Justin, Sam received the keys to her brand new eatery, Mary Fray’s former Ellwood Breakfast and Burgers, as a Christmas present on Dec. 24.

Sam, a former banquet server and waitress, and Justin, a former sous chef, had been searching for a restaurant when they were approached about Ellwood Breakfast and Burgers. Standing at 530 Lawrence Ave., Fray’s business turned out to be just right for the former Lincoln High School sweethearts.

In the following months, the new restaurant, which will be called Breaking Bread, underwent a full renovation including booths, stools, counters, floors, walls and more. Sam did recover an old Pepsi freezer of Fray’s that she wrapped in vintage Ellwood City newspapers.

“I see pictures of how Ellwood City used to be and I want to bring it back,” Sam Kelly said. “Where else is there a diner set-up here right now?”

Speaking of diners, this food may be a little far from ordinary. Of course, there will be the classic diner favorites, but for those who are brave, there is a world of endless food opportunities inside Breaking Bread.

There will be numerous unique specials daily including mac n’ cheese pancakes, waffled peanut butter french toast with chocolate chips and cream, bacon milkshakes and more. Vegetarian meals will also be served.

“I’m going to need a whole wall for specials,” Sam Kelly said.

Everything down to the soda will be one of a kind. Breaking Bread will serve gourmet crafted soda made with natural sugar rather than the typical Coke or Pepsi. The restaurant will basically take on the image of a diner with a little bit of a twist.

Justin and Sam, however, will stick to local produce, dairy, eggs and whatever else they can purchase from in and around Ellwood City.

Sam plans to be in full control of Breaking Bread during the day with cooking and serving. Justin works in I.T. for the Wright Automotive Group, so he will be prepping for the following morning in the evenings and helping out at the restaurant on the weekends.

The couple plans to keep the eatery a family business with the help of their loved ones including their children River and Toby, both students at Lincoln High School.

Breaking Bread got their feet wet while serving select items during the Memorial Day Parade and Summer Concert Series Saturday night. The restaurant will regularly be open Mondays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to noon. The restaurant also plans on hosting late night Saturdays from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m.

For now, the Kelly family hopes to bring a new, good quality restaurant to Ellwood City and to put smiles on people’s faces. In the future, they would possibly like to expand to hosting birthdays, showers and parties in the evenings.

“The goal is just to break bread with family and friends and try to bring good people together over good food,” Justin Kelly said.

You can check out the magical transformation and menu for yourself as Sam and Justin begin the next chapter in their fairy tale with the opening of Breaking Bread on Monday, June 16. For further questions, you can contact the eatery at 724-758-8888.