Ellie May’s Diner opened this past Tuesday after the owner decided to remodel and rename Al’s Diner after the original owner passed.
Transcript
JAMES PAMPEYAN: The Ellie May’s Diner is a new local diner in East Syracuse that is bustling with popularity. Before the name change, the diner was called Al’s Diner. This diner was closed in November of 2021 when owner Albert Burns Jr. passed away.
MARY HAHN: Im gonna cry so Im not gonna do that.
PAMPEYAN: That was Mary Hahn, a waitress who worked for Burn’s Jr. for over 20 years and returned to work at Ellie May’s. She said the diner was home to her, and that Al was family.
HAHN: Oh Al was just like a father to me. We had a lot of good times.
PAMPEYAN: With one of the few diners having been closed in East Syracuse, many people lost their favorite place to eat. Ellen Hilleges says she was asked to reopen after regulars would ask her what was next for Al’s Diner.
ELLEN HILLEGES: After he passed away, they will come in and ask, you know, is somebody going to open it, what are you gonna do, can we see it and so I’m hoping I can get those people back.
PAMPEYAN: With the community wanting Al’s Diner to come back, Ellen Hilleges, the building owner decided to take it on herself. After several months of planning and remodeling, she opened Ellie May’s Diner for the first time yesterday. As a first time restaurant owner, she hopes the regulars will come back.
HILLEGES: I’ve never been in the restaurant business so it’s all new to me. I hope we blend right in and it gets back to normal, the way it used to be around here with all the regulars
PAMPEYAN: With the community behind her and employees from Al’s Diner coming back to help, Hilleges says she hopes people will be patient as they learn. In East Syracuse, I’m James Pampeyan, NCC News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)- Ellie May’s Diner opened its doors for the first time this past Tuesday. Before then, the original diner, Al’s Diner, was closed in November of 2021 because the owner, Albert Burns Jr, passed away. Mary Hahn, a waitress at Ellie May’s, worked with Burns Jr. for over 20 years. She said the diner was home for her, and Al was family.
“Oh Al was just like a father to me,” Hahn said. “We had a lot of good times.”
Without their favorite diner, regulars would come and speak with Ellen Hilleges, the building owner. Hilleges said when she looked inside the closed diner, it looked sad. They asked her what would happen to Al’s Diner now that Al is gone.
“After he passed away, they will come in and ask, you know, ‘is somebody going to open it’, ‘what are you gonna do’, can we see it’,” Hilleges said. “I’m hoping I can get those people back.”
The community in East Syracuse wanted Al’s Diner to be back. Hilleges took it upon herself to make it happen. It took several months of planning and remodeling to reopen as Ellie May’s Diner. As a first time restaurant owner, Hilleges hopes the regulars of Al’s Diner will return.
“I’ve never been in the restaurant business so it’s all new to me,” Hilleges said. “I hope we blend right in and it gets back to normal, the way it used to be around here with all the regulars”
The community and former staff members of Al’s Diner are behind Ellen Hillege and Ellie May’s Diner. Hillege says she hopes people are patient as they learn how to get back to the reputation that Al’s Diner held.
You can find the hours of operation and the address for Ellie May’s Diner on its Facebook page.