Never Ordinary,
Since 1948
How a small family eatery in an old railroad station became Scranton's most beloved landmark.
The Railroad Station
Our story begins before there was a restaurant — it begins with a railroad. In the late 1800s, the Erie Railroad constructed a station house along their runs between Scranton and the surrounding valley cities.
Scranton was booming. Known as the “Electric City” for its pioneering electric streetcar system, it was a center of iron and coal production. The railroad station hummed with workers and travelers moving through Northeastern Pennsylvania.
But as the decades passed and the need for railroads decreased, the original Erie-Lackawanna Station fell quiet. It was sold — and a new chapter began.
The Cooper Family Takes the Helm
The Cooper family purchased the old railroad building and transformed it into a seafood restaurant. With just 75 seats and about 25 employees, Cooper's Seafood House opened its doors in 1948.
From the beginning, the Coopers had a vision: serve the freshest seafood in the region, treat every guest like family, and make the dining experience something people would remember.
It wasn't always easy. The region's economy took hard hits throughout the late '50s and '60s as the demand for anthracite coal and iron decreased. Many businesses closed their doors. Cooper's held on.
The Renaissance
From the mid-1970s onward, Scranton began its resurgence — and Cooper's was at the heart of it. The restaurant expanded dramatically, growing from 75 seats to over 500.
But this wasn't ordinary expansion. The Cooper family didn't just add tables — they built a full-sized pirate ship on site, complete with the Ship Pub where guests could dine inside the vessel. A lighthouse was erected, housing a bar of its own. A tiki bar deck brought outdoor dining to life.
Each new room carried its own personality: the Whale Room with its oceanic immersion, the Train Room honoring the building's railroad heritage, and the exclusive Coral Room for private events. By 2021, the staff had grown from 25 to over 100 employees.
A Scranton Icon
Today, Cooper's Seafood House is more than a restaurant — it's a Scranton landmark, a roadside attraction, and one of the most unique dining experiences in the country.
The restaurant has been voted Best Overall Restaurant, Best Seafood, Best Beer Menu, and Best Bar in a Restaurant for seven years running. Since being featured on and referenced in the hit NBC sitcom The Office, Cooper's popularity has only continued to grow.
And with Cooper's Family Brewing now crafting small-batch beers on site, there's always something new to discover. Still owned and operated by the Cooper family, the mission remains the same: the freshest seafood, a one-of-a-kind atmosphere, and an experience that is — and always has been — never ordinary.
Years of Tradition
Seats
Employees
Best Restaurant
Come See for Yourself
Walk-ins welcome. No reservations needed. Just come hungry and ready for an adventure.