Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Pottstown Diner under new ownership
Owner of Limerick Diner adds the location to his portfolio
POTTSTOWN » Calling it a “sleeper that needs to be woken up again,” the new owner of the Pottstown Diner is planning nearly $1 million in renovations to the location at West King Street and Route 100.
Mark Klein, who owns the Limerick Diner as well as several other diners in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, purchased the Pottstown Diner about three weeks ago, from longtime owner Matthew Sallit.
“The Pottstown area is a great area,” Klein said, pointing out the shopping and recreation in the area and efforts to revitalize Pottstown.
Klein said it was suggested to him that he change the name of the diner, but adds, “I’m not changing it — it belongs.”
The diner has remained open as ownership was transitioned. While the name will remain unchanged — Klein said in an interview that other things about the Pottstown Diner will be changing.
The diner will remain open until renovations begin sometime this summer. Klein said one of the first things he’s doing is implementing a new menu, which launched on Monday. Klein said it will include more intense cooking in the kitchen, and includes his team’s recipes for sauces and gravies.
“We’ll have some good Greek specialties on the menu as well as salads, sautés and all kinds of omelets. It will be trendy with a New York influence,” he said.
Klein added that the diner will serve Lavazza coffee and will be offering espresso, cappuccino and smoothies.
Klein has hired DeRaffele Manufacturing Co. Inc. of New Rochelle, N.Y., as contractor for the renovations. The firm specializes in building diners — more than 500 according to Klein — including Klein’s Voorhees Diner in New Jersey.
Klein said the Pottstown Diner “doesn’t look like a diner.”
“We’re still looking at drawings to see how we can make it look like a diner,” he added.
On Monday, Klein said he was told the floor plan has been completed, so he’ll be meeting with the contractor next week.
Among the work to be done will be a facelift in the kitchen, a new ceiling, new booths, larger windows, a counter and televisions, according to Klein. The diner is already equipped with Wi-Fi.
In addition, the parking lot will be redone, and Klein said he’s looking at the possibility of getting a permit to add a small sidewalk area with an awning, where people can eat outside.
Klein said he has already approached Pottstown borough officials, and has determined what permits are and are not required and where he will need to make improvements like handicapped access, the parking lot and a new fire alarm system.
Klein is a 1994 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. Klein is working with two partners: Chef partner Mike Mihos, who is in the kitchen at the Pottstown Diner during the transition, and brother-in-law Tony Leromonaxis.
Jointly, the trio runs the Limerick Diner, the Voorhees Diner in Voorhees, N.J. and the Llanerch Diner in Upper Darby — featured in the movie “Silver Linings Playbook.” Klein is the former owner of the South Street Diner in Philadelphia.