The Virginian-Pilot
©
CHESAPEAKE
The Silver Diner in Chesapeake has closed.
Workers were told Sunday that the restaurant would shut down after brunch that day, said Ype Von Hengst, a co-founder and vice president of culinary operations of the restaurant chain.
Silver Diner has more than 15 locations in Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey, including restaurants in Virginia Beach and Newport News. None of the others is closing, Von Hengst said Monday.
More than one-third of the approximately 40 workers at the Chesapeake location will get jobs at the Virginia Beach or Newport News diners, he said.
Employees with more than one year of service will get severance pay or help finding a job at another Silver Diner, Von Hengst said.
The Chesapeake restaurant opened about five years ago on Tintern Street, near the intersection of Volvo Parkway and Battlefield Boulevard.
"After year one, we already started struggling," Von Hengst said.
The parking lot was inaccessible, he said, and nearby construction deterred customers. "They oversaturated the whole area with restaurants. Then, of course, the nail in the coffin was the economy."
Von Hengst said he drove Sunday from Maryland to help break the news to employees.
"I know some people are upset, but we are doing everything above water," he said. "The associates felt they were losing family. We felt that way, too."
Philip Walzer, (757) 222-3864, phil.walzer@pilotonline.com
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It's never good news
It's never good news to hear someone has lost their job. I've been lucky, but I know it could be me next. I hope it works out for the folks that do the heavy lifting in any food business, the waiters and cooks. As far as the food at the SD, I've always been a fan.
We always enjoyed..
eating there. Food and service were always great. I wish all involved with it well.
Pop's Diner on Greenbrier is better
Their prices are resonable and the food is great. I go there multiple times a month for lunch.
Silver Diner closing
Ype von Hengst is right. I did work for Silver Diner. The Chesapeake location was real tough, a block off Battlefield Boulevard and somewhat obscured from the traffic. The product is good, very good and has gotten better with the new menu. It's a shame people had to lose their jobs, which is happening too often in this economy. But many will work at the Virginia Beach and Newport News locations. I hope everyone is not turned off to Silver Diner because of this unfortunate occurrence. The restaurant does a lot of good for the community, but you can't keep operating stores that are not profitable or everyone loses.
Who...
would give this comment a thumbs down?!?!
People who think Micky D's
People who think Micky D's is a real fine meal.
Class operation. 10 minutes notice that you do not have a job.
Class operation. 10 minutes notice that you do not have a job.
Yeah, but
Did you notice that they actually gave severance pay (or help getting transferred to one of the other stores)????? How many restaurants will do that???
Silver Diner is so much fun to eat at. I ALWAYS got their Blueberry Pancakes. And I have a friend who used to drive all the way up to Tysons Corner near Fredericksburg just for those pancakes. The Va. Beach store is not as convenient, and it's usually more crowded, but I'll go over there anyway...
agree with you!
But the dude drove ALL THE WAY down from Md. to tell them the news. Ain't that something?? LOL
When will the Virginia Beach
When will the Virginia Beach Diner close..Always been over rated, crappy food..