Aramingo Diner is back
from the ashes

By Brian Rademaekers
Times Staff Writer

After a devastating fire ravaged the Aramingo Diner just 10 days before Christmas, contractors assessing the damage gave owner George Grigos grim news. It would be a long time — possibly even six months — before the neighborhood restaurant could welcome back its loyal patrons.
But Grigos was determined to have the Aramingo open for business to celebrate the diner’s 50th anniversary this month.
In January, he had admitted that the goal was an "optimistic" one. But today that optimism appears to have paid off.
This week, patrons will again be able to slip into the cozy booths of the Aramingo and order a slice of its renowned cheesecake and other favorites.
The timely opening was set for the stroke of midnight on Tuesday (the Times went to press that afternoon) and represented the culmination of a marathon drive to repair the destruction inflicted by the fire, Grigos said while standing amid a swarm of workers in his Port Richmond diner just days before the planned reopening.
"Everybody helped out. There was always someone here doing something, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week — just like the diner worked," Grigos said.
"I have been here every day since we closed, and I’ve pushed my own staff and the contractors to get everything done."
The fire started on the night of Dec. 14 when a spark popped from a sautéing dish and ignited in an overhead vent. The flames spread rapidly and destroyed the kitchen, burning much of the ceiling and roof. Thick smoke did the rest of the damage, despite a speedy response from the Philadelphia Fire Department.
No one was injured. But the blaze — and in particular the sorrowful sight of a severely blemished landmark — was a major blow to Grigos and his staff. Some employees had worked there for more than 30 years, and Grigos was well-known for keeping the diner open every day of the year, a schedule maintained for decades.

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Even though the devastation was overwhelming, the tight-knit staff and Grigos’ own tireless work ethic combined to get the diner back to those happier days of appealing aromas and friendly chatter.
During the early-morning hours of Tuesday’s opening, Grigos planned to be joined largely by the same pre-fire staff as he served up the first plates of eggs and home fries. That symbol of a revival from the ashes is a testament to the dedicated employees who help make the Aramingo Diner the special place it is, Grigos noted.
Still, he wasn’t sure just what to expect — his diner, after all, had been closed for three months. Before the fire suddenly changed life and the routines of plenty of customers, Grigos’ restaurant rarely closed for more than a few hours during its half-century of operation.
"When you’re down for nearly 120 days, people tend to look for other places to eat," Grigos said. "I hope that they’ll come back to the diner and patronize it like they have for the last fifty years.
"People will sometimes complain that we are a little pricey, but that’s because we use nothing but the finest ingredients," he said. "This isn’t a fast-food operation."
Grigos wants to believe that the aroma of his food will lure back the people in the days ahead. That and the return of a staff that has always been a popular draw for customers, he added.
"We have a staff that is like family, and I think people come because it feels like a family spot," said Grigos.
In addition to finding the same comfort foods and friendly staff, patrons will notice some new additions to the 1950s-style diner.
New booths, upgraded lighting and refinished walls will bring spunk to the old building, Grigos said. One of the biggest touches is a new takeout system featuring a separate phone line and a pickup entrance.
"It’ll make it really convenient for people that want to call in and pick up food," Grigos said.

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Last week, with the clock ticking down to Tuesday’s grand reopening, workers were busily rushing around the restaurant as Grigos power-washed the front walk. Tableside jukeboxes were being fine-tuned. Wallpaper was being hung. The new kitchen equipment was still covered in plastic.
Not to worry. A jubilant Grigos said nothing would stop the Aramingo Diner from getting on with the happy task of celebrating its 50th year in business.
"All the major construction is done, and right now we are just putting the final touches in place," Grigos said just days before this week’s planned opening.
As for the customers? Only time will tell. But you’d have to believe that a few months is hardly enough to diminish years of memories — not to mention appetites.
George Grigos will have the coffee on.
"Hopefully," he said, "they will remember that there is nothing finer than the Aramingo Diner." ••
Reporter Brian Rademaekers can be reached at 215-354-3039 or brademaekers@phillynews.com