WORCESTER, Mass. - We’re a week and a half into the Lenten season where many Christians observe the tradition of not eating meat on Fridays. One fish and chips restaurant in Worcester tdiscussed how things pick up ahead of Easter and what’s been working for nearly 60 years.

Foley & Son Fish and Chips keeps things simple.

“Open Fridays only 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.," Patti Foley said. "We open Ash Wednesday every year, 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and we're cash only.”

The Worcester fish and chips spot is open year-round on Fridays and Foley said things pick up during the 6 weeks ahead of Easter.

“It's like sometimes double to triple my business during Lent," Foley said. "So, it's like Saint Patrick's Day, everybody's Irish on Saint Patrick's Day, everyone's Catholic at Lent.”

The business has been on the same corner of Franklin and Plantation Streets since 1967. From the address to the fry batter recipe, Foley said not much has changed in nearly 60 years.

“I haven't changed one thing," Foley said. "I added shrimp and chicken tenders, but other than that, I haven't changed anything.”

Foley bought the business from her mother in 1996 and as the youngest Foley with 5 older brothers, she never changed the name either.

“When my mom opened it, there were like 12 fish and chips in the City of Worcester; there was one on every corner," Foley said. "My oldest brother kept saying, ‘Go out on your own, go out on your own.’ So, finally she said, ‘I'll help you.’ So, hence came the name Foley and Son. But he was in high school and there were girls, and there was basketball. So, he didn't last long. But we are still here, going strong.”

One big change since the 60’s has been the cost of doing business.

“The biggest hurdle right now is the economy," Foley said. "You know, it's killing the small businesses.”

Foley said, especially in the last 5 years, costs have gone up on just about everything down to the 50-pound block of vegetable oil she orders.

“Before the pandemic, it was probably around 22, $23 a block. Now it's 60. So, everything is just crazy. Crazy," Foley said. "You can't look at the price anymore. Because if you go to the grocery store, you never want to eat. You just got to buy what you want and hope for the best.”

And no matter what time of year it is, Foley said it’s the repeat customers who keep the fish and chips spot afloat, along with doing everything the way her mom did.

“You've got to be nice to the people that take care of you, and you kind of treat them like you want to be treated," Foley said. "If I didn't have regular customers and loyal customers, I would have probably been gone a long time ago. They’re the ones that keep me here and I'm blessed for that.”