MANSFIELD — Two ceramic pigs hang from the ceiling inside Porky’s Drive-In.
One was found at a flea market near Sandusky by the current owner’s daughter, Donita Blasberg. The other was found elsewhere in Ohio by Blasberg and her late mother. The latter of the two pigs hangs above booth number six, where lengthy and unlikely stories were told by customers who would gather to drink coffee on weekday mornings.
“Some of the conversations that were had in that booth, they just made you say, ‘Yeah, right. When pigs fly!’” Blasberg said.
The same phrase might have been used in 1949, if someone implied the Ashland Road restaurant would still be open seven decades years later. Still, it remains and will celebrate its 70th anniversary this year.
“I don’t know that there’s really a key to staying in business. You just really have got to have a great burger,” Blasberg said.
Mansfield resident and regular customer, Sue Welsh believes Porky’s has the recipe just right. She’s been coming to the restaurant her “whole life” and now brings her three young grandchildren Zoey, Gracey and Jozey Baker along, too.
“They love it. They love this place. It’s a great place to eat. Always has good food,” Welsh said.
As they enjoy their burgers on a Saturday afternoon, current owner and Donita Blasberg’s father Dan can be spotted in the kitchen, which is just through a doorway with a sign above reading, “Happy memories are made here.” He wears a light blue t-shirt with a Porky’s logo that sticks out from under his white apron, and when he turns around, another Porky’s logo can be seen painted on his back pants pocket.
He opted to have his daughter answer Richland Source’s interview questions, but later wasn’t shy to explain how he makes Porky’s homemade vanilla ice cream. It’s used to make milkshakes, a popular menu item.
Donita noted that her family is proud to make food from scratch and to buy from other locally owned businesses.
“We believe in supporting the mom-and-pop shops. To us, family is important. Shopping local is important,” she said.
Donita’s grandfather first opened Porky’s at 811 Ashland Road in 1949. This was a few years after he and his brother had opened another location in Galion.
“It wasn’t enough to feed two families, so they flipped a coin, and granddad sold out,” Donita said, reciting her family’s history as easily as if she was reading from a book. “He went down to the Loudonville-Perrysville area and managed an Islay’s for six or seven months, and in 1949, this here all got started.”
Eventually, the Galion branch closed.
But Dan bought his father’s Mansfield branch in 1994, and has kept Porky’s going since then. One day, Donita intends to do the same.
Watching her sitting in a worn, cozy blue booth, it’s clear she cares deeply about the restaurant. At one moment, she pauses to point out the curtains. Some are black-and-white checkered, others are barbecue themed with small grills and aprons printed across the fabric.
At other times, she leaves the interview to make sure customers are content. She even managed to get a towel to one of Welsh’s grandchildren before water from a tipped over glass ran off the table.
“When I’m not here, I miss the people,” Donita said.
In honor of its 70th anniversary, Porky’s will host three car shows later this year, weather permitting. They are scheduled for June 8, July 27 and Sept. 21.
Porky’s is open 10 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It’s closed Sunday.
