‘The people’ helped build new diner’s menu
June 17, 2009
ECO Staff – Laure Cioffi, senior journalist
ELLWOOD CITY -- Tom Weller has dreamed of opening a restaurant for the last 12 years.
That dream came true Monday when he opened Weller’s Diner on River Road near the intersection where Route 351 branches off.
Weller, who owns Weller Auto located across the street, said the opportunity to open a diner recently came up when Kilroy’s Restaurant closed.
The restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. this week and Weller said he plans to be open until 7 p.m. Friday for fish dinners. The restaurant will be open Mondays through Saturdays and eventually have regular dinner hours.
The restaurant is truly a family affair with Weller’s wife, Barb, sister-in-law, Eleanor Lively and daughter, Christine Weller, handling the kitchen and serving.
“It’s all home cooking. A lot of our own recipes,” Weller said.
Weller said he constructed his menu after about three months surveying just about anyone he saw.
“The people built the menu,” he said.
Weller said at breakfast they have homemade sausage gravy and home fries. He’s heard a lot of complaining that other restaurants aren’t using the homemade version.
His wife is also making her homemade Texas sheet cake.
“She makes the best Texas sheet cake,” he said.
Weller said their number one request has been a meatloaf dinner, which they plan to have on the menu once they are regularly open for dinner.
Weller said the building, which seats about 28 in the dining room and 10 at the snack counter, was in move in condition when they started.
He said they intend to have a grand opening in about a month.
“It’s an interesting business. It can be a lot of fun. You don’t know who you will see or who will stop by,” Weller said.
(Laure Cioffi can be reached at LaureCioffi@EllwoodCity.org)
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