Courtesy of Big Tony’s at the Lake
By Jill Nagy
After several years of relying on vending machines, visitors to Moreau Lake State Park can once again enjoy real food served by real people. Big Tony’s at the Lake opened May 25 and the place has been busy every day, according to Anthony (Big Tony) Schunk, owner of the business along with his wife, Amy.
The Schunks got into the business almost by chance. They did a lot of cooking for Northway Church in Stillwater, sometimes serving as many as 700 people. That led to developing Big Tony’s Meal Prep, their meal prep business out of the local Elks Lodge. People asked if they could have the meals brought to them for parties and large gatherings, leading to Big Tony’s Catering. A fortuitous visit to Moreau State Park led to an offer to take over the concession stand for the summer. They signed a five-year contract with New York state, beginning this summer. Their eatery is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. They may squeeze in a few more weekends in October, Schunk said.
The Schunks and a staff of eight keep both the Stillwater and the park businesses going.
At the lake, Big Tony’s offers snacks and family-style meals. Customer favorites include smashburgers, spicy chicken sandwiches, soft-serve ice cream, and the family-style meals. They also cater to campers, he said. Full meals are served Monday to Friday. The restaurant serves breakfast on Saturdays.
“This is a very good fit,” Schunk said of the Moreau enterprise. “So far it’s been a good run.”
He thinks they may expand in the future, but has no specific plans.
Schunk said he always worked in restaurants, beginning when he was in high school, and his wife worked as a hospitality manager.
The Schunks began “making big moves” back in February 2023, trying to bring the concession stand back to life. A little over a year later, they hung out the “Open” flag and were ready for business. The hikers, swimmers, kayakers, and other visitors to Moreau Lake State Park quickly found them.
Big Tony’s at the Lake is located at 605 Old Saratoga Road in Gansevoort. It is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday to Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturdays; and from noon to 6:00 p.m. Sundays.
They can be reached by email at BigTonysMealPrep@gmail.com.. Their website is bigtonyscatering.com. Their Facebook page includes menus, photos, and a video of endless chocolate soft-serve ice cream.