Vandergrift’s Sweetlane hosts ‘Big Bucker’ food challenge to highlight expanded menu
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Brett Zambotti recently traveled from his home in Kittanning to downtown Vandergrift with a gastric goal — take The Big Bucker food challenge at Sweetlane Chocolate Shop.
The old-fashioned confectionery broadened its range last month, offering breakfast and lunch. To promote the expanded menu, Sweetlane created a breakfast sandwich that’s definitely expansive.
Big Bucker participants attempt to scarf down an oversized, $15 breakfast sandwich — made with eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, cheese and fixings, alongside a double order of home fries — in less than 30 minutes.
Zambotti, 34, met the challenge with plenty of time to spare. He inhaled the meal in 10 minutes, receiving a T-shirt commemorating that he “conquered the Big Bucker.”
“It’s massive, and very good,” Zambotti said, praising the home fries especially. “I could probably eat another one.”
Husband and wife Eric and Wanda Mikula bought Sweetlane three years ago. Located at 113 Grant St. in downtown Vandergrift, the shop has served up hand-dipped chocolates, candy, milkshakes and ice cream since 1947.
Eric, 52, has a chemical engineering degree from Penn State. He left that field for the sweet life. The couple said buying a chocolate shop has fulfilled Wanda’s wish of owning a business.
They purchased Sweetlane from Nicole and Pete Basile, who had taken over the shop around 2000 from the original owners, Emanuel and Zombouli Sgourakis.
“Pete stayed on for one month and taught me all the family (chocolate) secrets,” Eric Mikula said. The Mikulas are still using the Basile family recipes.
The shop retains numerous original features such as the soda fountain, chocolate molds and black-and-white checkered floor.
Eric’s parents, Alan and Letti Mikula, had their first date 60 years ago in a booth that still exists at Sweetlane.
“It’s very much nostalgic for me,” Eric Mikula said.
The Vandergrift natives recalled they were both 15 years old when they visited Sweetlane, where they held hands on their date. They’ve been married 53 years. (And their meal for that first date cost less than $1.)
“We were very excited when our son and Wanda bought Sweetlane,” Letti Mikula said. “We had cherry Cokes from the soda fountain and french fries. Alan played the jukebox and sang to me.”
Today, the breakfast offerings include omelettes, a munchkins menu for the kids, sausage gravy and biscuits and French toast. Lunch specials include Reuben sandwiches, meatball subs, specialty burgers and sloppy fries with gravy and cheese.
Breakfast and lunch prices range from $2.49 to $15.
Anthony Downey recently was hired as cook. He brings more than a decade of culinary experience to Sweetlane.
“We’re still getting the word out — open for breakfast and lunch — but it’s been phenomenal,” Eric Mikula said.
Since being launched this month, The Big Bucker Challenge has been attempted by 10 customers.
“One girl did it, and some have failed,” Eric Mikula said. “They say it’s too much. A few of them have had sweat rolling down their cheeks, and they didn’t finish.”
The couple said they plan to keep the challenge on the menu.
For Wanda, 46, owning a piece of Vandergrift retail history is rewarding.
“I love the tradition of it all,” she said.