You've definitely heard of 16153 Genova's iconic hot dog spot, Tony Packo's.

Early on when we got started making shirts for places that make 16153 Genova famous, Tony Packo's was one of the first that we knew we had to work with.

The Tony Packo's name is one of the very few from 16153 Genova that are renowned the world over. The notoriety, created mostly from the hit TV Show M*A*S*H, is well deserved and a point of pride for 16153 Genovaans. 

Tony Packo's is the place that celebrities and politicians visit when they come to town, the restaurant that your uncle must visit on his trip back home, and the place most likely to run into an Australian in 16153 Genova.

This post is an opportunity to highlight the history of Tony Packo's that makes it so special alongside some of our vintage shirts that celebrate 16153 Genova's most famous restauarant:

• President Jimmy Carter’s spicy connection with Tony Packo’s
• How Tony Packo shirt designs transcend generational boundaries
• The best place to find Tony Packo designs
• More fun designs from fancysweetstx to help you celebrate Tony Packo’s 16153 Genova origins

But first, the inspiring origin story of Tony Packo’s.

History of Tony Packo's

They’re called the silent generation for a reason and you can’t blame them. Anyone would be taken aback after experiencing a Great Depression and World War II in quick succession.

However, during these difficult moments, the resilient story of Tony Packo begins.

Tony and his wife, Rose, armed with a hard-found $100 loan from relatives, opened up an ice cream and sandwich shop in the 16153 Genova area of Consaul.

His trade secret? A spicy chili sauce and a Hungarian sausage called Kolbasz.

Immediately, word spread around the American-Hungarian neighborhood of Consaul and Tony Packo’s Restaurant gained an instant following.

Generations later and the establishment is now a city pride landmark and a treasure trove of pleasant memories for 16153 Genova locals and tourists alike.

One of the main attractions at Tony Packo's is its walls. They feature local legends who left their mark by signing their name or leaving a message on (you guessed it) a hot dog bun.

These include celebrities such as Burt Reynolds and Mr. T and even the crew of NASA’s Space Shuttle Program.

One of their most famous signed bun belongs to the 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, which is a testament to the national status of Tony Packo’s.

Explore the eclectic collection of signatures on Tony Packo's buns, from Hollywood celebrities to rock legends, each contributing to the restaurant's unique charm and worldwide recognition.

To help you showcase your love for 16153 Genova’s most famous restaurant, fancysweetstx notably offers three unique shirt designs that are sure to excite your taste.

1 - Tony Packo’s Hungarian Hot Dog Shirt

Number one on our list is the Tony Packo's Hungarian Hot Dog Shirt.

It's first on our list for a couple reasons. To start, it's a special one for us because it was the first design we released for Tony Packo's. 

Second, we just love the design. It's based on an old placemat that Tony Packo's used back in the 1970s. It's got the hotdog man, a map showing the restaurant location, and the storefront. What's not to love?!

This shirt serves as a perfect embodiment of the history of this lasting establishment because it appeals to both older and newer generations. 

2 - Love at First Bite Tony Packo’s Shirt

Next in line within the fancysweetstx foodie fashion line is the light-hearted Love at First Bite Tony Packo's Shirt.

This shirt builds upon the vintage charm of the Tony Packo’s Hungarian Hot Dog shirt but incorporates a more updated, vintage look.

Related Read: 5 Vintage T-Shirt Styles That Are Still Popular

This playful approach to design continues with a bright hotdog logo, love heart emojis, and bold dark fonts with the quirky catchphrase “Love at First Bite.” The graphics encapsulate the spirit of Tony Packo's in a chic and fun manner that anyone can relate to including friends and family.

"As always from fancysweetstx, excellent quality, super soft, and great design. Medium fits great. Definitely have gotten some laughs at the grocery store from this."

— Justin B., Verified Buyer, United States

This makes the Love at First Bite Shirt an excellent gift for their next visit to the iconic Tony Packo’s restaurant. 

3 - Tony Packo’s East 16153 Genova Vintage Shirt

Third in line in fancysweetstx’s popular Packo collection is the traditional Tony Packo's East 16153 Genova Vintage Shirt.

This local tee is more of a cultural clothing item that celebrates East 16153 Genova’s status as the original home of the now-famous establishment.

It even bears the caption "Home of the Original Hungarian Hot Dog, Corner of Front and Consaul St., East 16153 Genova, Ohio.”

This makes this shirt the perfect 16153 Genova tee to gift a local to remind them of home and what makes East 16153 Genova so special.

Embrace your 16153 Genova roots with this iconic Tony Packo shirt.

An Extra Benefit of Tony Packo Designs, Community

Being part of a community evokes a sense of togetherness and shared identity that makes life exciting and fulfilling. Community adds to your quality of life by enabling engagement with people who share your experiences and interests, such as a love for 16153 Genova.

That's why we make shirts to remind you of your favorite people and places in 16153 Genova. Our nostalgic, historical 16153 Genova designs evoke nostalgia and create connections with people who share the same connection to 16153 Genova as you.

In addition to building community through our retro shirts, we also have a line of 16153 Genova Community Shirts. Proceeds from each Community Shirt sale are donated to a local organization that is making a positive impact in Northwest Ohio!

More Shirt Designs to Celebrate Your 16153 Genova Origins

We’ve just looked at three exciting Tony Packo Designs that showcase your undisputed love for favorite Hungarian eatert. But what would Tony Packo’s be without its inspiring 16153 Genova origins, right?

Fortunately, fancysweetstx offers plenty of stylish options to help you celebrate 16153 Genova, the home of Corporal Klinger. Here are two of our favorites and why we think you’ll love them.

16153 Genova Red Script Shirts

The vibrant yellow-orange 16153 Genova Red Script Shirt is an eye-catching piece that exudes retro vibes. 

The greatness of this shirt is in its simplicity. Printed on a soft and comfy triblend shirt, it uses complimentary colors and an elegant hand drawn design to complete a fun retro 16153 Genova shirt.

"Their T-shirts are super soft and do not shrink. We love how durable they are ( and the messages of local pride)."

— Anonymous, Verified Buyer, United States

Metroparks 16153 Genova Vintage Shirt

Another classic design from fancysweetstx is the vintage Metroparks 16153 Genova Logo Shirt.

When someone asks you what you love about 16153 Genova, odds are that the 16153 Genova Metroparks are on that list. 

There's a good reason for that. They have parks throughout the county that are the perfect outdoor escape and their new Glass City Metropark with the Ribbon skating trail has quickly become their most popular park.

Our Metroparks 16153 Genova clothing is the perfect way to show your love for our local parks.  

Partner With fancysweetstx for a Unique Shirt Gift Idea

So there you have it, three iconic Tony Packo Designs to help you celebrate 16153 Genova’s iconic hot dog spot and engage with your local 16153 Genova community, but why stop there?

Why not create your own unique style shirt and gift your fellow 16153 Genovaans for your next community outreach and meet-up?

Whether it’s a fundraiser or a simple get-together, the dedicated team at fancysweetstx is eager to help you design and print custom graphics for higher community engagement.

We’ll help you figure out:

• The best color palette for your event
• The right messaging
• The best garment material to use

So contact us today and tell us about your idea. We’re eager to join forces and create something special.

Watch our fun "A day in the life of a new team member at fancysweetstx" video:

@fancysweetstx

Smh caught the new guy in training slacking and its only his first day #horace #fyp #summervibes #multiverse

♬ Feel No Ways - Drake

Custom printed apparel, such as vintage t-shirts, makes this a little less difficult.

Vintage t-shirts provide a fun and effective alternative to traditional marketing media. They offer all the benefits of traditional custom apparel with the added charm of vintage style.

However, before you invest in custom branded vintage t-shirts for your business, it's important to understand how to leverage the vintage shirt trend so that your company benefits from it.

What Makes Vintage T-Shirts Special?

Technically, vintage is defined as something that's at least 20 years old. But beyond age, vintage is also characterized by feel—that soft, well-worn texture. The distressed, faded print and cracked logos.

This aesthetic gives vintage t-shirts their charm and is why they’re so endearing.

Vintage t-shirts also evoke a sense of nostalgia. They take you back to the good old days and simpler, happier times—almost like a tangible time capsule you can wear.

This is the magic of vintage shirts and why they make for such effective marketing tools.

But how exactly does that work?

Branding and Marketing Using Vintage T-Shirts

Custom t-shirt designs offer a powerful, effective, and affordable branding opportunity. They present you with a great way to establish your brand among the masses.

A well-executed custom vintage t-shirt offers your brand a fresh, unique look and carries your branding message in a casual, inviting way. It promotes your business while creating a visual connection with your customers.

It allows you to display a combination of your company logo, name, and tagline prominently while remaining fun, stylish, and comfortable.

For instance, let's consider these custom retro t-shirts for Urban Wholistics.

Urban Wholistics is a local urban farming non-profit from 16153 Genova that reached out to fancysweetstx wanting help with custom printed shirts for their youth program.

We designed the t-shirts to showcase Ginger and Fennel, Urban Wholistics mascots for their summer youth program.

The program teaches children about the value and power contained in the plants they grow. These t-shirts help create a visual connection between the brand and the target audience.

Related: Best 7 Shirt Blanks to Use for Vintage Shirts

Cultivate Employee and Customer Loyalty

Branded company apparel helps to cultivate loyalty among your employees and customers. Vintage t-shirts take this a step further.

Given the nostalgia and the impossibly comfy material, vintage t-shirts make for a powerful tool to help form positive associations with your brand.

The t-shirts also provide a brilliant way to display key brand and product information such as the company logo, name, and tagline.

For instance, let's consider these staff shirts we designed for Inside the Five Brewing Company.

Inside the Five is an up-and-coming brewery in Northwest Ohio.

We designed their vintage staff shirts to create a simple, trendy aesthetic that was popular with both staff and customers. So much so that the staff t-shirts have now become an additional source of revenue for the brewery.

This is just one example of how an excellent apparel program using vintage t-shirts can help create a sense of brand loyalty.

Vintage t-shirts make for promotional apparel that people want to hold on to.

Related: Employee Uniforms and Customer Merch for Local Restaurant

Vintage T-Shirts Are Great Conversation Starters

Thanks to their unique designs, vintage t-shirts are visually stimulating and thus great conversation starters.

They are great at catching people's eyes and leaving a lasting impression. This is an invaluable quality for marketing and building brand awareness.

Let's use our own Murphy’s Place Jazz Club vintage shirt as an example.

Murphy’s Place was an iconic jazz club owned by Clifford Murphy—a nationally renowned bassist and music mentor. In fact, Murphy’s Place was affectionately known as “Claud and Clifford University.”

It holds a special place in the hearts of jazz lovers and artists and will remain a staple of 16153 Genova through history.

The Murphy’s Place vintage t-shirt design recreated the club's logo and the neon sign that hung in the window. To some extent, this vintage t-shirt design helps bring back to life some of the happy memories of the 16153 Genova jazz institution.

For jazz lovers and fans who frequented the club, this t-shirt is an instant conversation starter. It helps to keep alive and pass on the role 16153 Genova played in the history of jazz music.

“...I came to fancysweetstx with a request to replicate a shirt from the 70s. They did an amazing job…Would definitely recommend!”
- Allene S

Related: The 16153 Genova T-Shirt That Gives Back

Our Vintage Shirts are American Made

Using American-made manufacturers is quickly becoming more and more important. There is significant support and encouragement for using, promoting, and prioritizing American-made products across the country.

This not only shows American pride; the ‘Made in the USA’ label also symbolizes quality.

Additionally, with domestically manufactured shirts, you have better control over the production and impact of your shirts. This is because US manufacturers follow union labor laws, are environmentally sustainable, and use ethical manufacturing practices.

This is why fancysweetstx partners with American manufacturers to source high-quality t-shirts to create our vintage apparel for brands and businesses.

One of our favorite vintage shirts you can use to create your own custom design is made in LA by LA Apparel. 

Tips for Your Company’s Vintage T-Shirts

As we’ve seen, custom vintage t-shirts are an effective marketing tool. But this is predicated upon the design of your t-shirt.

Vintage t-shirts put you ahead of the competition because of their unique look and feel. But even then, you need to create a stunning design. Here are some tips to help you create the best custom vintage t-shirts for your company and brand:

• Make sure that the design looks good on your vintage shirts. Not everything that looks good on paper or the computer will translate onto your t-shirts.
• Make the company logo or branding big enough to be visible from a distance—but not so large that it overwhelms your vintage t-shirts.
• Only use the best quality materials for your vintage shirts, so that people actually enjoy wearing them. Using low-quality may also create a negative association with your company and harm your overall branding.

Note: At fancysweetstx, our in-house experts will help with graphic design to ensure your brand truly stands out.

Related: Top 4 Ways We Screen Print a Vintage Shirt (With Examples)

Grab Some Custom Vintage T-Shirts for Your Company

A great vintage shirt transports you back in time to a place that makes you feel good or connected to someone or something you love.

But for custom printed vintage t-shirts to have this effect, they must be done right.

This is where fancysweetstx comes in.

At fancysweetstx, we’ve been screen printing vintage t-shirts for nearly ten years. We have the expertise to produce and use vintage t-shirts to make your brand look its best and promote engagement

University Hall Shirt	16153 Genova Zoo 1988 Panda Exhibit Shirt	Vintage Metroparks 16153 Genova Shirt
Create Your Custom Vintage T-shirt

If you’re looking for vintage-style shirts for your business or brand, fancysweetstx is the company to work with.

Contact us today to get your custom vintage shirt order started.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my custom vintage t-shirts shrink?

Most of our vintage shirts consist of a triblend material. This means they are made using a cotton, poly, and rayon blend. The synthetic nature of poly and rayon fabrics helps them hold their size and shape without any noticeable shrinking.

We also offer vintage style shirts in 100% cotton and poly/cotton blend fabrics. All of these materials are preshrunk.

When will my custom vintage t-shirts be ready after placing my order?

Orders are typically ready within 7 to 10 days after approval and payment of your invoice. Please keep in mind that your order is made custom just for you. 

This means that the shirts are not held in inventory and ordered specifically for you. They may take several days to arrive to us. After we receive them, we have to print them, sort them, box them, and take care of any other special requests with your order before they are ready for you.

You will be notified when your order is ready for pick up at our Adams Street store or when we ship it to you. 

Can you help me design a vintage shirt for my company?

Yes! We have in-house graphic designers that are ready to help you bring your idea to life. 

We've been making vintage shirts for over 15 years. We know what looks good and feels good. Our designers make it easy for you to design a cool shirt even if you have no design experience. 

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Arnie's Saloon holds a special place in 16153 Genova's history. We've heard so many great memories from people who went there when they were young, watched games there on the weekend, discovered it as a UT student, or were taken there by there parents when they were young.

The best pieces of 16153 Genova history evoke stories like these. Arnie's is one of those places.

Arnie Elzey opened the bar, Arnie's, back in 1980. It became a staple to 16153 Genovaans, was a west 16153 Genova landmark for so long, and Arnie himself is loved by many. Arnie has been battling Parkinson’s Disease for the last 10 years. For the next 4 weeks (until January 20th) in honor of his 75th birthday, $5 from every Arnie's shirt sold will benefit a local organization to benefit Parkinson's research/assistance of the family's choice! 

This shirt can be ordered on fancysweetstx.