Our relentless attention to detail, fierce commitment to quality, and peerless customer satisfaction lie at the heart of everything we do.
Our company
Scalleat Hospitality Group began from humble beginnings when John Scalleat opened Jon's Campus Shop, a pizza and hoagie shop in downtown Kutztown, PA while attending Kutztown University in the 1970's. The shop was decorated by Kutztown's art students and was so small that it inspired the name of his second restaurant, Close Quarters, opening in 1975. That restaurant quickly became popular with skiers and tourists in the Lake Harmony area of the Poconos, and, after a successful run, John sold it in 1999. Along the way, he purchased the Ovalon Bar & Grill in 1977, and in 1989 he opened the Powerhouse Eatery in an abandoned power station that required two years of work to renovate. He purchased and remodeled the building that housed Connor’s Grillroom in 2002, which focused on white-tablecloth dining and served contemporary interpretations of classic American dishes.
Today, the Powerhouse Eatery still retains the original brickwork, valves, and boilers that serve as the backdrop for a menu of classic and contemporary American fare, with steaks, chops, and seafood dishes to appeal to the heartiest appetites. With over 200 seats, it’s the largest of Scalleat Hospitality Group’s three establishments, attracting tourists as well as travelers, thanks to its food, unusual architecture, and visibility from Interstate 80 that passes nearby. The Ovalon, which has been in continuous operation since 1946, has 150 seats and leans toward traditional Italian fare in a family- and kid-friendly atmosphere. The Canning House, Scalleat Hospitality Group’s latest venture, blends fresh food, unique artwork, and local history. Established in 2019, the vibrant brunch destination has approximately 100 seats and specializes in crafting traditional breakfast and lunch fare with a creative twist.
Our Team
Hiring the right people, training them for excellence, and giving them room to grow is what sets us apart. We take care of our team through competitive compensation, meaningful benefits, and thoughtful community initiatives. Attracting, hiring, and nurturing employees that believe in our values is what sets our businesses apart. Our team consists of individuals who embody our family values, excellence in hospitality, and integrity.
“It’s important to me to keep the ambience and hospitality of a family-run business. We always have been family owned, family operated, and family oriented."
— JOHN SCALLEAT, FOUNDER
Want to work with us? Join our team.
Our Philosophy
Our customer-service philosophy is simple: Satisfaction is guaranteed.
Although, we believe our commitment extends further than our customers - we seek to ensure individuals, businesses, and communities that we operate with and within are always dealt with the highest standard of integrity and trust.
Our Community
The essence of a restaurant is serving food. Every day we get to serve customers exceptional food and be apart of memories that will last a lifetime. However, we believe it is our responsibility to not only serve our customers but the community in which we operate. This is why we are beginning to work with Fork Over Love to help extend our reach outside of our restaurant.
We prioritize doing our part to contribute to the neighborhoods that support us, and helping to make the world a better place.