PEORIA MAGAZINE July 2023

W hen Jesus Valdez took over Coney Island two decades ago, he knew the recipe for success. Well, make that two recipes. One would be the secret formula for the coney sauce that has brought in legions of eager customers for more than a century. The other would be the throwback atmosphere that looks virtually the same as it did on opening day, 1921. Jesus Valdez and his mother Maria Valdez are owners of Coney Island with son Manny and daughter Mariah

DISH AND DRINK

102 AND STILL GOING STRONG Coney Island is the oldest eatery in Galesburg, and it’s still not sharing the recipe for its secret sauce

BY PHIL LUCIANO PHOTOS BY RON JOHNSON

16 JULY 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE