East Penn Diner Nearly Ready for Business

Special to Emmaus Patch By Chrissy Cilento, Emmaus High School Senior   

Wondering when the East Penn Diner on Chestnut Street will finally be open? Well, the wait is almost over!

Originally set to open in January, the diner ran into some trouble with construction, but now is nearly ready to open. The hiring process is underway, and as soon as the staff is set the doors will officially open. Owner George Draklellis says that there most likely won't be any sort of ceremony to the opening, just a quiet affair, so keep your eyes peeled for the day when the "Open" sign goes up. 

Although the construction went a little longer than anticipated, the extra time has definitely paid off. For those who remember the building back when it was the Emmaus Diner, be prepared for a shock when you see the renovations. Everything in the building is completely new, except for the flooring in the front half of the diner. Plumbing, electricity, kitchen appliances, seating...everything has been completely revamped and modernized to give the diner a brand new feel. 

The up-to-date interior certainly sets the East Penn Diner apart from other local eateries, but there are also a couple more distinctions that make this restaurant different from the rest in the area. For one, the East Penn Diner will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide for its customers. Since there are no other businesses in the area that are open around the clock, Draklellis says that's what's so promising about being 24/7 - there's no competition! 

Draklellis also believes that East Penn Diner will have a more unique menu than other diners in the area. He says: "We try to think outside of the diner box and not do the typical diner thing. Although we do feature a lot of the typical diner things, we also have different types of foods, like Mexican, wraps, paninis and pita sandwiches. Our chef is very diverse with his cooking style and he's going to introduce some different things that aren't available or haven't been seen in the typical diner scene."

The East Penn Diner is the sister to the Queen City Diner, which is also owned by the Draklellis family. The Draklellises would like to carry the good reputation from Queen City to Emmaus and build a strong relationship with the community. Says owner George Draklellis: "We want to be Emmaus' diner!"

Chrissy Cilento, a senior at Emmaus High School, plans to study journalism in college. She is a periodic contributor to Patch.