The founder of an iconic Orlando restaurant received a memorial send-off Friday fit for a king.

Memorial service for Tom Veigle, restaurant founder, Friday

Veigle founded Beefy King, Tom's Pizza

Both restaurants still in operation in Orlando, DeLand

“There will be pizza there and roast beef," said Freeman Smith. “He’ll enjoy it.”

Beefy King founder Tom Veigle passed away earlier this month from pancreatic cancer. The man founded the roast beef shop in 1967, and the Smith family took over operations soon after.

“I liked him right away," said 92-year-old Freeman. "As far as I'm concerned, I couldn't find a better friend. He always treated me real square."

Veigle was also known for Tom’s Pizza, an operation still running to this day in DeLand. But the entrepreneur had a new idea for a roast beef sandwich shop.

“He presented this, it hadn’t been built yet," said Freeman. “I went back to Michigan on a handshake."

Man behind Tom's Pizza in DeLand & Beefy King in Orlando passed away. Pizza, roast beef was served at his memorial: https://t.co/loPRw1pmPB pic.twitter.com/xwizd0tAkv — News 13 (@MyNews13) August 19, 2017

Soon Beefy King took shape. Since then, the Smith family has run the joint, straying little from Veigle's initial vision: Wood paneling still lines the room, a simple menu tacked to the wall. In the center of the open kitchen, meat is cooked on a sizzling hot plate, ready to be wrapped in a white bun in aluminum foil.

While a third generation now runs the place, each morning Freeman gets to the restaurant around 5 a.m. and wipes down tables.

“He feels the same pride in it too. It’s just a very warming feeling to be a part of this," said Roland Smith, Freeman's son.

It's the family atmosphere which brought customer Harry Seligman in 1985 -- and keeps him coming back every day.

“All these nice folks you see working here are family," Seligman said.

The family doesn't know what the next 50 years holds, but hopes that Orlando continues to patronize their beloved Beefy King.

“Orlando has really treated us well all these years," said Roland. “This is 50 years for our family in this business. We owe it all to Tom Veigle and his family."