Background
Tony Luke, Junior. was born in South Philadelphia. With a growing family to support, Luke went to work with his father in food trucks and other odd jobs.
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Tony Lucidonio, Junior.
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Education
He attended Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts.
Career
Addicted to methamphetamine as a teenager, he today says he uses that experience and the fighting and hustling of his youth to tell kids that difficulties can be overcome. After high school, Luke married at age 18. To avoid competition with other local businesses, the original Tony Luke"s stand offered a more diversified menu, offering hoagies and other fare, along with cheesesteaks.
Luke Junior. soon took over the store"s marketing.
Eventually, the business grew to include several locations in the Philadelphia area and a line of frozen sandwiches. Through a partnership with Rastelli Foods Group, the business now has several franchised locations in Bahrain.
Luke, Junior. has three sons, all of whom work for him. Luke"s restaurant franchise, Tony Luke"s, has expanded from its original South Philadelphia location to Citizens Bank Park, Atlantic City, The Wildwoods, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Luke"s frozen line "Tony Luke"s Pronto" is available nationally.
Luke and his restaurants have earned numerous awards and recognition from both local and national publications, as well being featured in episodes of Throwdown! with Bobby Flay, Dinner: Impossible, Manitoba v. Food and Food Wars. Luke opened a location in Bahrain in 2010 and plans on opening 60 more in the Middle East and North Africa. He was the host of "Tony Luke"s Eaglemania" which aired Saturday nights on Philadelphia"s American Broadcasting Company affiliate WPVI-television for a portion of the Eagles" 2010 season.
