If, at any time, you hear those words, then you have been introduced to the language spoken at Johnny’s Lunch.

And while standing at the counter giving your order, you don’t need to say anything else, but maybe “with everything” to make your order even more tasteful.

Whatever you order, you will love your three hotdogs.

Area residents have Augusto J. “Gust” Calamunci to thank for making that beautiful phrase so memorable.

Johnny’s Lunch located at 986 Fairmount Ave., at the edge of West Ellicott. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

Monday, Sept. 29, Calamunci, 91, passed away, leaving an indelible mark on the region.

Born Aug. 29, 1934, in Villa Regina, Argentina, he was a son of the late Antonino and Gaetana Germana Calamunci. At the age of four his family relocated to Italy before he emigrated to the United States in 1954, spending his 20th birthday on the boat.

Upon his arrival in Jamestown, he went right to work at Maddox Table. In 1955 he enrolled in night school and became a US citizen. Because of his strong work ethic and living the American dream he was able to send for his sister Mary and his twin sister Rose to move here in 1956 and his mother in 1958. In 1963 he started work at Crawford Furniture where his lifelong friendship started with the Crawford family.

In June of 1975 Gust and his wife Dianne bought the Jamestown institution, Johnny’s Lunch, from her father and mother.

They continued to have a hand in the business while it is being run by the fourth generation grandson Robert Yezzi with Dianne by his side.

Retired chef Frank Consiglio, of Jamestown, said consistency is what draws him to the restaurant. Consiglio said that some restaurants have come and gone in the area because they have changed their operations and sometimes their food items.

But not Johnny’s Lunch.

“Nothing ever changes,” Consiglio said. “You never have to be afraid of your order changing. You can trust that it’s always going to be the same.”

Consiglio’s order: three Texas hots with everything, and loaded Texas fries.

Not only does Consiglio go to Johnny’s for the food, but for the atmosphere.

“The atmosphere – it’s always busy,” Consiglio said. “You never know who you are going to bump into.”

Kristin Johnson, of Jamestown, also said Johnny’s Lunch is full of good food and has a classic, nostalgic vibe. When they visit, she said, the first thing her out-of-town friends and family want to do is get an order from Johnny’s.

“We grew up with it,” Johnson said.

For her order, she prefers everything with extra onions.

Full disclosure, I usually like my hotdogs with ketchup, but I sometimes try the sauce.

As recently as May, Gust would go into Johnny’s a few days a week to supervise the back kitchen operations.

Johnny’s Lunch began it’s foray into the restaurant business in 1936. Johnny Colera’s objective was to build a business to support his family, according to johnnyslunch.com.

In 2020, the original Johnny’s Lunch sign returned to the restaurant, located at 986 Fairmount Ave., at the edge of West Ellicott.

Dianne Calamunci, the daughter of namesake Johnny Colera, and co-owner of Johnny’s Lunch, said in 2020, that the sign was put up between 1939 and 1940.

“”My dad and mom started the business itself in 1936, so this really was from that era,” Dianne Calamunci said in 2020.

The sign goes back to when Johnny’s Lunch was originally located on South Main Street in the heart of Brooklyn Square during an era when the junction served as the hub of a hardworking community of Italian Americans. The sign — and the Coleras’ building — came down in early 1973 like much of the surrounding area, aimed to be the site of an urban renewal effort. By April of 1974, Johnny’s reopened at its current location.

In the early 1980s a group of young men from Southwestern Central School started the “Gust Club.” They gave Gus a bat inscribed with his name which hangs in the restaurant to this day.

In a Facebook post, Gust’s son, Anthony J. Calamunci Sr. said “Today we lost a true hero – my ‘Champ’ passed away leaving a hole in our hearts – Gus Calamunci 1934-2025. RIP Dad I love you.”