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.
