It was the end of an era Sunday (July 5), as Metro 29 Diner concluded 31 years of dinner service.
The Langston Blvd landmark is keeping breakfast and lunch service starting at 6 a.m. daily, but will now close at 4 p.m. daily rather than 10 p.m.
Peter Bota, one of the restaurant’s owners, told ARLnow it was a decision that “was not taken lightly on our part.”
“After the pandemic, our breakfast [crowds] improved, our lunch improved … but our evening business never recovered,” he said. “We tried to stay open as long as we could.”
Announcement of the decision was greeted with disbelief and in some cases anger.
“We got some negative hits in the beginning,” Bota said, noting the reaction on social media.
After the restaurant gave more explanation of the reasons behind the decision, “people were very understanding,” he said.
Among those who accepted the change without rancor was patron Laurie Gethin. Writing on Facebook, she said:
“I understand the need for businesses to remain nimble — and food retail is especially challenging. So, good for you for making this difficult decision, and good luck with the new hours … I’ll enjoy continuing to dine with you.”
In its early days starting in the 1990s, Metro 29 Diner was open from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. on weekdays, with closing extended to 3 a.m. on weekends. Hours were later scaled back to midnight and, after a three-month pandemic closure in 2020, to 10 p.m.
Dinner offerings will remain available to those dropping in during breakfast and lunch hours. Bota said the dinner menu is surprisingly popular at breakfast time — especially among shift workers, such as nurses, completing their workdays in the morning hours.
Those seeking dinner will be able to order and pick up meals prior to the 4 p.m. closing.
The restaurant’s prime location and stylized architecture have long made it familiar to local residents. It later gained a national following after being featured in Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”
Among other famous visitors, Joe Biden stopped by in December 2012 to participate in a roundtable discussion while vice president.
