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Diner still ‘Court’-ing new customers after 40 years |
by SUSAN L. SERBIN, Daily Times Correspondent
01/23/2005, Copyright The Daily Times
MEDIA, PA
When Charles Adams was in junior high -- admittedly some years ago -- there was a diner across the street from his school. He used to look at it and say, "Some day I’ll have a place like that." Adams has done that, and more. He and his actual and extended family are celebrating 40 years at the Court Diner, the Baltimore Pike landmark in the county seat.
The restaurant is marking the anniversary the weekend of Jan. 29-30 with a 10-cent cup of coffee, complimentary cake and the good food and service for which it is known.
The Court is going into its 41st year, to be exact, having opened in 1964. Adams had a partner, Steve Stephano, who retired in 1985. Charles’ son, Nick, has become a partner. One of them is generally on the premises throughout the long 6 a.m.-11 p.m. day.
"My dad would be here all day if he could," said Nick, who is almost always at work in the kitchen.
Charles Adams said several generations of his family have been in the food business. Before coming to Media, he had a 60-seat restaurant at Second and Race streets in Philadelphia. Wanting something larger, and having moved to Havertown, Adams came to Media. It seemed a natural selection for the amount of traffic on Baltimore Avenue, and daily population in the borough.
"You usually think of diners on highways and not in cities, but this is kind of a combination," said the senior Adams.
The Court has the traditional counter and booths in the front of the house, and a sizable dining room on the Edgmont Street side. It seats about 160 in total.
About two months ago, the entire place went smokeless, making those counter and booth folks happy. While the diner has been maintained over the years with new carpeting and drapes, the basic design and decoration has stayed fundamentally the same, with paneled walls and brass fixtures.
"We want to keep it clean and in working order, the same as you would your home," said Charles.
The idea of home is very much the key when it comes to food. The extensive menu is the very essence of home cooking -- the kind of food your mother made, or you wish your mother made. Classic diner fare includes the very popular liver and onions, meat loaf, homemade soups and stews. Breakfast food is offered all day.
"Things change very slowly, when it comes to the menu," said Nick. "We used to sell a lot of fried food, but now we’ve gone to mostly broiled or sautéed. That’s come from customer requests. We have responded to changes in eating habits, like many cutting back on carbs. But people are expecting certain food when they come here."
Diners, the Adams family feels, are a niche in the food industry. The growth in the number of restaurants in the borough has not affected the Court in any way. Many have come -- and gone, Charles Adams said.
The diner does not reflect trends, but responds to the community. The special selections for children and seniors shows a specific sensitivity to economic needs. Almost the entire menu breaks the $10 mark, which could be one reason the diner has some customers who come twice a day. Another reason may be the consistency of the food and staff.
In addition to Charles Adams’ 40 years, and Nick’s 30 years, the staff includes Ruth Morrison and Penny Marinakes, both of whom have been there from the start.
The diner’s owners have a goal.
"My hope for the next 40 years is to give our regular and new customers great food and great service," said Charles. |
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