One of Court Streets most iconic, and metallic, businesses is beginning its final semester on campus.
Court Street Diner, or “the silver diner” as many parents may refer to it, has been sold to new owners who operate the Hangover Easy franchises in Columbus and Cincinnati. With the new owners and new name will come an updated menu, as well as a liquor license.
Just last August, Hangover Easy was forced to open a second location in Columbus because of the sheer volume that the first location received. Now, the empire looks to expand to Southeast Ohio.
However, the questions many current employees of Court Street Diner have don’t pertain to the new menu or drink specials; they want to know if they will still have jobs this summer.
“Nobody is going anywhere,” front of house manager Mary Nern, a graduating senior, said. “The old owner, Terry Wells, made sure that we would all keep our jobs when he sold.”
Wells, who also owns Whit’s Frozen Custard on Court Street, had trouble keeping consistent business at the diner and recently scaled back operating hours at the beginning of the spring semester.
“I think this is going to be good for everybody,” Nern said. “Good for Terry, good for us here at the diner, good for Hangover Easy, and good for Athens.”