Regulars—

 Sandy Hook Diner: Where Even Newcomers Become Old Friends

By Nancy K. Crevier

Sandy Hook Diner has been a fixture on Church Hill Road since 1935. The little diner has seen generations of children grow up and its tiny space has hosted thousands of meals. Regulars come and regulars go, but there is always a new influx of people who think of the Sandy Hook Diner as a home away from home.

It is difficult for Cliff Rothe to narrow down the customers he has come to know as “regulars” the past eight years he has managed the restaurant for owner Ellie Lewis. So many of the people who line the counter and fill the seats in the dining room are familiar faces, day in and day out.

“Eighty percent of the people who come in here, we know what they want,” he said. “When they come in, whatever they have to drink is following them to the table.”

Sometimes Mr Rothe is too busy in the kitchen to peek out at the filled dining room, but he still knows who is waiting for a meal. “Some people order the same thing every day of the year. The waitress hangs the order and I know who is out there.”

Part of the reason Sandy Hook Diner has such a loyal following is the light-hearted atmosphere, Mr Rothe said. “We joke around with the customers, they joke around with us. It’s like a family get-together. We share the gossip from the night before.”

Father Bob Weiss from St Rose Catholic Church is at the diner nearly every morning, said Mr Rothe. “No matter what the time of year — winter, spring, summer — he always has iced tea.”

That the staff at Sandy Hook Diner knows his little quirks is what appeals to Father Weiss, and is one of many reasons he has patronized the eating establishment for the past seven years. “I like the whole family atmosphere of the place,’ he said. “There is a real gathering of community there. The staff learns your name and knows what you want. It’s the kind of atmosphere I like for breakfast.”

Bob Hickey is another customer Mr Rothe expects to see at the counter most days of the week, and several times a week Joan Bergquist stops by for lunch.

Ms Bergquist is a relative newcomer to the regular list, despite having lived in Newtown for nearly 40 years. “I visited this place with a friend this past year,” she said, as she paused from her lunchtime meal and reading material, “and I fell in love with it.” Four to five times a week she is at the diner for lunch now, she said. “The food is excellent, the prices are fair, and I am happy here. The great thing is, you can order breakfast anytime.”

When she orders soup for lunch, Cliff Rothe knows that Ms Bergquist likes it “boiling hot.”

“We do the little extras people want,” he explained. “We’re small enough to do the little things and big enough to be able to afford to do them.”

As a writer, Ms Bergquist finds the Sandy Hook Diner conducive to collecting ideas. “I watch the traffic go by and see what’s going on out there. And I love to hear the snippets of conversations. Some are so sad, some are happy or silly. I can sit here and get ideas for my writing.”

The staff adds to her enjoyment each time she visits, she said. “Service is quick and I like the waitresses, so young and friendly. I’m very fond of Cliff and Ellie.” And the feeling is mutual.