BLANCHARD — Just after opening the door’s at Griffin’s Diner in Blanchard, they are down to take out dinner only.

Travis Fischer and Kelly Billet opened the door’s at Griffin’s Diner the last week of January 2020.

Griffin’s (named for their unborn son) has been a great part of the Blanchard community.

Something this little town needed — breakfast, lunch, dinner and ice cream — the perfect combination for Blanchard.

PHOTO PROVIDED Griffin enjoys an ice cream cone at the restaurant named after him.

Business has been great, with wonderful people supporting it. Repeat customers walk in the door every day, and knowing them by name has been humbling.

“You can’t start a small business without knowing the people who support you,” said Fischer

Travis and Kelly, who are also the owners of the Mountain Valley Diner in Wingate, brought the family favorites to Griffin’s, along with other wonderful recipes.

Last month he closed the doors to The Mountain Valley Diner to give it a “face-lift” along with a revamped menu, even changing the name to Kelly’s Diner.

“We needed to bring the place to the 2020s, not changing the old favorites, but adding something new,” said Fischer.

At the time it was the perfect time to do that, with Griffin’s busy every morning and right through the dinner hours. He closed the doors at the Mountain Valley Diner for what was supposed to be three weeks with plans to reopen right in time for their Easter Buffet.

Now he is unsure, with the kitchen gutted and workers not allowed to finish until this pandemic is under control, he is at a stand still. But has an idea for Easter dinner take out.

Now focusing his attention back at Griffin’s, he is trying to keep those doors open. The first week of this pandemic he had all three dining options open for take out.

Now into the second week, he had to cut breakfast, and make the hard choice to cut lunch. They are down to just dinner take out from 3 until 8 p.m. He has temporarily cut his staff and his family works the restaurant alone without pay.

“I know there is a need to keep our doors open as long as possible, and we are struggling to do so,” said Fischer “One minute we are busy and things flow so well, down to ‘I have no idea how long we can do this.'”

Fischer said he wants to continue to see happy, smiling faces walk into the restaurant.

“It’s so nice to sit back and watch the wonderful people I hired, make a personal contact with this community,” he said.

When Mr. Lester walks in, he already has his hot tea on the table, or when Mr. and Mrs. B sit down, they already know coffee for Mr. B and hot tea for the Mrs.

“The staff knows our wonderful friends, who bless us with their patronage and support every day. You don’t get that this early in the game,” Fischer said. “But it is happening ,and it warms my heart. I want to be here for years and years.”

Griffin’s is such an important part of Blanchard now. Once this is over Fischer said they will get back to normal business and is hopeful their staff will start up right where they left off and people will be back.

The ice cream window will be open, with plenty of outside seating and they will have games and things for the kids to do outside, he said.

“But right now I feel like I have been punched in the gut and every day I worry about those who walked in my door. Are they okay? Especially our older patrons. I worry about my staff and my family, as does every small business going through this right now,” Fischer said.

“Will things be the same? Will people come back? Or will things change, like nothing we’ve ever seen before? Am I nervous ? Yes,” he continued. “I am trying to build a business for my family, something to pass along like the Mountain Valley Diner. That was my mother’s and passed to me. I want the same thing for my kids. Building a small business in a small town is tough, but we can do it and we can come out of this, all of us can.”

It is tougher than the big chain restaurants, he said. They have funds, share holders and what not. They can bounce back. Be bailed out.

“It is harder for the little guy trying to make a difference in a small town. I will not give up. I love this community and we are stronger together ,” said Fischer.

Griffin’s Diner is located 11053 N. Eagle Valley Road, Blanchard, Pa.

(Submitted by Cindy Shawley)