Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
The Post - Athens, OH
The independent newspaper covering campus and community since 1911.
The Post
Juniors Robert Harrington (left) and Jeff Fletcher (right) grab a late meal at the Union Street diner saturday at 230AM. The Union Street Diner, which has changed hands 2 times in the past year, now stays open 24/7.

Athens eatery offers 24-hour service for hungry students

Under new ownership for the first time in 14 years, the diner on Union Street, known for its bountiful breakfasts, will now be open 24 hours a day to cater to late-night student food cravings. 

The Union Street Diner, located at 70 W. Union St., has recently changed its hours of operation. It is now open 24/7 with the help of two new owners, 35 new employees and a remodeled establishment.

Owners Mark Crumpton and Jay Shapiro bought the eatery from the Forsyth family in mid-August after inquiring about the property for about five years, they said. Both have experience with the Athens late-night food scene and have developed a close working relationship during the past few years.

Crumpton and Shapiro declined to share the price they paid for the diner.

In 2000, Shapiro moved from Boston to Athens in hopes of opening a D.P. Dough franchise, thinking Ohio University students would make a lucrative clientele. After building “the No. 1 late-night delivery in Athens,” according to Shapiro, the Crumpton family bought his D.P. Dough franchise in December 2010.

“Jay and I both see an enormous opportunity with this diner being open 24 hours,” Crumpton said. “We are committed to a 24-hour, year-round operation with breakfast served all day. We are also very proud because there is no other 24-hour diner in Athens County.”

Mackenzie Pickett, a sophomore studying accounting, said she enjoys going to the all-night eatery and is excited about the change in hours.

“The diner has a lot of character,” Pickett said. “I like how it’s very reminiscent of old-school diners. During a late night, it’s fun to hang out with your friends at a cool and comfortable place, and the Union Street Diner is just that.”

The revamped restaurant has three core principles, the two owners said, which are to “exceed customers’ expectations, be a great place to work and be a profitable business.”

Along with these new business philosophies, both owners said they have invested in remodeling the diner by purchasing new kitchen equipment, diner signs, an updated operating system and new paint.

These improvements signal their intention to be around for a while, Crumpton said.

Pickett also thinks the Union Street Diner will be crowded during late nights on the weekend and that students will appreciate the change.

“College students are always on a weird clock, and finding something to eat is usually at the top of their list,” Pickett said.

sl642509@ohiou.edu

Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2016-2024 The Post, Athens OH