Family Chill & Grill owners Scott and Juanita Illig (right) stand outside their restaurant with their daughter, Gretchen Illig, and nephew, Brad Eaken. The restaurant will be featured on the Fox News channel Wednesday morning. Mirror photo by Matt Churella

TYRONE — A local family-owned eatery will be featured on the Fox News channel next week.

FOX & Friends First co-host Todd Piro will broadcast live at 5 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, from the Family Chill & Grill, 13524 S. Eagle Valley Road, Snyder Township, according to Scott Illig, the restaurant’s owner.

Illig said Fox News saved a Florida-based restaurant from closing its doors earlier this year and sought submissions online for other businesses to visit.

After Illig, his family members and several customers submitted requests to the conservative news and political commentary channel, his daughter, Gretchen Illig, received a response.

“It was probably three sentences just saying we’re struggling daily,” Gretchen said of her email asking Fox News to visit her family’s business.

“The next thing I know, they called and said they wanted to come to our restaurant,” Scott Illig said.

Illig said he and his wife, Juanita, started the business 22 years ago as a small ice cream shop. After the restaurant became “fairly busy,” they expanded the business with a pizza area and extra seating, he said, noting they also sell breakfast foods, burgers and fries.

“We try to offer a little bit of everything,” Illig said.

According to Illig, the business is struggling to survive because of rising prices. He said the cost for a case of eggs nearly tripled in price from $35 to $90. Utility costs are also on the rise, he said.

They raised their prices slightly, but cannot afford to keep up with inflation because many of their customers are living on “fixed budgets,” he said.

“People don’t realize what it takes to keep this place going behind the scenes,” Illig said. “We’re doing all right, but we’re not.”

Illig said he and his wife are hoping to retire and sell the business. The restaurant has been up for sale for about a year, he said, noting they’ve received some offers, but nothing serious.

“I can’t get around like I used to. We’d love to have somebody take it over,” he said.

Illig said Family Chill & Grill is a local place where families and friends come together and enjoy themselves.

“I enjoy seeing people come in here with their families. That’s what keeps us going,” he said.

Gretchen said the restaurant’s customers mean a lot to her and her family.

“It’s truly the customers who make the job,” she said, adding she’s excited to be on national news. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance.”

The event is open to the public. The restaurant will open at 4:30 a.m. and has 50 to 70 seats available on a first-come, first-served basis, Illig said.

“Come say something and voice your opinion,” he said, noting the broadcast should last three hours. “Put Tyrone on the map for a few hours.”

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.