http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20111006/NEWS02/710069904
Springfield’s Royal Diner reopens
Vermont Royal Diner owner Nina Howe enyoys the company of her grandfather and loyal customer Roger Neal at the diner, which was formally known as the Springfield Royal Diner but is now under new management.
Vyto Starinskas / Staff Photo
By Susan Smallheer
Staff Writer - Published: October 6, 2011
SPRINGFIELD — Nina Howe was heartbroken when the Springfield Royal Diner closed in July.
Not only did she lose her job as a waitress, but she lost her sense of community — her “diner family.”
Howe, 22, with the backing of her family, has reopened the River Street diner, despite having her home surrounded by the flood water of Tropical Storm Irene.
On Wednesday, the first sunny day in what seems like weeks, Howe and her crew were welcoming customers, serving plates of eggs and hash.
Renamed “Vermont’s Royal Diner,” Howe has an on-the-ground view of what improvements people were looking for in the diner, which closed in July after increasing financial difficulties.
Howe worked for two years for the previous business owner, Sylvestre “Sly” Gallegos, who is now working at The Hole, a downtown Springfield bar.
The diner has lost its Mexican flavor in the menu, and Howe said, “Vermont comfort food” was her priority.
“He didn’t believe in ‘sausage, biscuits and gravy,’” she said.
She said her goal was to “make everyone happy with a lot of traditional food.”
Howe and her family, including her father Ken Neal of Ludlow, and husband Jake Howe (the couple lives in Chester) all have a role in the diner, whether it is making the meatloaf (dad) or filling in everywhere (husband).
They are leasing the historic diner from Matthew Alldredge of Springfield, who first brought the Art Deco diner to Springfield from Kingston, N.Y., about 10 years ago.
Inside, the diner is full of shiny stainless steel, accents of pink and metallic blue.
At the tables are regulars like Al Pinders of Springfield and Bruce Houghtaling of North Springfield. The two friends are catching up before Pinders heads for South Carolina for an extended visit to his son.
“But breakfast trumps all,” said Houghtaling, who is waiting for his hash.
Pinders, a well-known retired businessman in downtown Springfield, said the diner was missed for the months it was closed.
“I had one pancake, two poached eggs and sausage,” said Pinders, looking at his empty plate. Pinders, in his early 80s, has been managing the Crown Point Campground for the past several years after he closed Furman’s Department Store.
“We’re regulars,” Pinders said.
Howe is trying to incorporate many tried-and-delicious family recipes in her offerings.
The pancake recipe came from her foster grandma, Eileen Austin Neal and the doughnut recipe is also from the family.
She is also using local ingredients as much as possible, getting much of her beef from Winterview Farm in Springfield, her produce from Black River Produce, and maple syrup from a sugarmaker in Ascutney.
It’s been only a couple of weeks since Howe opened. But she said it’s been exciting and challenging.
She wants to reopen the diner’s drive-up window to serve breakfast sandwiches for people on the go.
Breakfast is the most popular item and it’s served all day, she said. The diner is open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., and on Saturday, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
If the diner does well, it will stay open for dinner on the weekends, she said.
“My biggest thing is that people know this is their diner, too, and I’m open to suggestions,” said Howe, who said she wouldn’t serve alcohol because she wanted to maintain a family environment.
Right now, she is looking for a baker to produce that other staple of diner life — pie.
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