Lakewood Diner, located at 48 Chautauqua Ave., opened earlier in the year to the public. A grand-opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Tuesday with the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and village of Lakewood officials.

Open seven days a week, the diner serves breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The diner was once home to a community favorite in Mindy’s Place. When the establishment shut down and the building was up for sale, Morgan Hatrick and Sara Pang, Lakewood Diner owners, jumped on it. The two ended up buying seven buildings in the village.

“This building here in Lakewood is our favorite and like the crown jewel,” said Hatrick, a lifelong Western New Yorker who recently came to the area. “Rather than have a new tenant for our building, we ended up getting involved ourselves directly.”

The diner specializes in pancakes, but they also serve French toast, eggs and bacon and other items for breakfast. For lunch, a variety of foods are served including Philly steak and cheese, hamburgers and salads.

Hatrick said they’re also working with The Fitness Bunker, located at 9 W. Summit St., Lakewood, to provide healthy choices.

“Typically, you might have a couple come in where maybe someone wants to eat the hearty, heavy meal but the other wants to have a salad. We have a lot of great salads … a variety of interesting salads,” he said.

Specials are served every day. While they’re not menu items, Hatrick said they’re always on their special board. Such specials include carrot cake French toast and banana nut bread French toast.

“A lot of people are excited we have a restaurant for breakfast and lunch right here in Lakewood because it’s in walking distance,” Hatrick said. “People come down for the shops. When they’re here, we’re the only restaurant that specializes in breakfast and lunch.”

Since they opened, Hatrick said the reception has been positive. When they were working on the building, he said many people stuck their heads in wondering when the diner was going to open.

“There’s a lot of excitement,” he said.

Lakewood Mayor Cara Birrittieri said she’s pleased to see Lakewood is back to having its local diner up and running.

“I was sad to see Mindy’s leave, but now that we have Lakewood Diner open, people can come here and have a fantastic cup of coffee as well as all your favorite home-cooked and pretty eclectic breakfast dishes and lunch,” she said. “I think it’s just wonderful.”

For more information, visit Lakewood Diner’s Facebook page.

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