John HollowayGet ready for late night snacks, after church brunch, and breakfast 24/7, Minella’s is back bigger than ever. Kids can have scrambled eggs for dinner, dad can have real charcoal cooked burgers, and with a liquor license pending, dad may even be enjoying a cold beer after a long day’s work. After a complete facelift, Minella’s Diner is aiming to reopen by Monday, Sept. 29 and they are holding back some exciting surprises.
Everything was redone. There are two, four and six person booths wrapping around the dining room, and the same long counter for usual stop-and-go patrons. A full espresso bar was added where patrons can have an iced latte in the hot summer, or a warm cappuccino in the shivering winter.
Nothing was taken off the menu, in fact, 15 percent was added; new steaks and burgers, more pasta, and lots of pies which will be on display in new counter top windows. All of this was possible with its expansion in the kitchen, and their full bakery in the basement with 4 walk-in freezers. The whole restaurant is computerized for more efficient relaying from the counter to kitchen. The kitchen itself is modeled after a hotel kitchen, giving more room for the line chefs. Come grand opening, this place will be more than enough prepared to serve. And, no worries for amateur servers, the entire old staff will be returning. General manager Mark Klein said, “we’re ready for heavy action!”
Former owner and founder of the on-going name “Minella’s,” Minella Zoto, bought the Colonial Diner from the franchise Horn and Hardart back in 1971. From that point on he had to deal with a steady population increase around town, but no size change for his very busy business. Twenty-seven years later in 1998, Minella sold the diner to brothers Nick and Dennis Dellaportas. These two brothers had a dream, and come October, they will celebrate their five-year anniversary with a diner that is 60 feet longer, and can hold almost twice as many patrons as it ever has before. All thanks to this summer’s remodeling, where the two brothers and family worked right next to the contractors they hired.
Klein, who is also the stepson of Nick Dellaportas, is very excited to get back to work. “No matter how much we cleaned this place these past few years, it never looked “clean,”” Klein said. “Shipping the new diner in was just like a car buff trading his ’63 Corvette in for a 2003. People will miss their classic diner, but will appreciate a better dining experience.”
If one is hoping to see the same 1960s atmosphere, with the nostalgic feel of the roadside dining car, well, be prepared for some changes. Walking in nothing is the same, not even the building. Last May, Mel Brandt Rigging came and took the old Minella’s dining car and shipped it out to Lancaster, Pa. in four pieces, demolishing the old kitchen. Weeks later, the “new” restaurant was shipped in nine pieces out of New Rochelle, N.Y. The entire diner was designed and constructed in a warehouse hundreds of miles away, and put together in the quaint town of Wayne. For history lovers, no need to fear, the original diner will be in Lake City, Fla. in the next couple of months.
Junior Stefani Ciarrochi is awaiting he reopening of Minella’s rather impatiently. “I drive by almost every day to see if there is a sign of when it is reopening because until then, I am beside myself with anticipation waiting for their french toast and lemonade…and their side of pickles; they have the best pickles,” Ciarrochi said.
Although the old Minella’s was popular among the communiy, loyal customers are looking forward to the return of the diner. The countdown has begun until the reopening of Minella’s and also for the late night memories that will soon again be made over omelets, burgers, pasta and maybe even a bottle of beer here and there.
Posted to the web by Marisa Gallelli
