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Washington Co.'s Krency's A Long Time Fixture Of The Community

WASHINGTON, Pa. (KDKA) -- After morning patrol, Washington Police cruisers are a fixture at Krency's.

"A lot of the community goes there for breakfast," said Capt. Robert Wilson, of the Washington City Police Department. "It's just a nice place to have breakfast and good food."

Breakfast at Krency's doesn't have quite the same cachet as "Breakfast at Tiffany's," but even Audrey Hepburn might not be able to resist a plate of buttery scrambled eggs, bacon and toast.

Jack Stewart likes his oatmeal with the Observer-Reporter.

"And when you come in here, you're just like one of their family here," says Stewart.

Owner Mike Krency started young.

"That's the way I learned, from my mom," he said. "I didn't go to any school or anything - my mom, my dad."

Nearly 30 years of dishing up breakfasts, Krency's sponsors a lot of local softball teams and there are roundtables of retirees that spend long, leisurely hours over a cup of coffee.

"Just liable to find us talking about anything," says Denny Marchand, a customer. "Some of the stuff you might not want to hear."

Red-haired Ashley has worked the grill, waited tables and run the cash register since high school. She now moonlights when not teaching middle school math.

"I love the people that come in. I love the people that I work with. Of course my boss is a pain in the butt, but I love him, too," says Ashley.

Krency's is something of a dynasty in Washington. On Jefferson Avenue, not far from Mike's place, is the original Krency's Bakery.

"They have the best cream-filled donuts in the world," said one customer.

The baked goodies need no further endorsement. But Doug Krency - the other brother - is proud of his newly-renovated café dining room where breakfast is also on the menu, and Barcelona native Chef Art Meza will whip you up a mouth-watering Spanish omelet.

Catering is a major focus.

"We do everything from pig roasts, to birthday parties, to you know, weddings," said Doug.

Much has changed since Doug and Mike's dad, Mickey Krency, opened the bakery in 1959, but there's only one thing that's surprising about this hometown favorite.

"Only that we're still here," Doug says laughing.

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