by Corey Oliver
Staff Writer
Elvis will be in the building when the Golden Oldies Diner celebrates its grand opening this week.
The 1950s-style diner, located at 474 Riverside Ave., is actually in its fourth week of operation and is owned by Michele Haddad and her son Dan.
The grand opening celebration will feature an appearance by a local Elvis impersonator, and there may be a Marilyn Monroe and a young Elvis look alike, according to the Haddads.
Dan Haddad has been itching to open a restaurant in Jacksonville, and with the help of his mother, he finally got the chance. His first experience in the restaurant business came when he was 15 years old as a dishwasher at Milano’s Italian Restaurant. He studied everything that was going on around him until the owner finally gave him a shot at cooking.
“When we found that the Daily Derby was up for sale we went ahead and purchased it,” said Michele Haddad.
Dan Haddad conceived the diner idea because he wanted to do something different in the area — and because of the countertop. The old countertop needed replacing and the search began for something they liked. They found a blue formica countertop, which reminded them of restaurants from a different era.
“Once Dan saw the countertop he told me, “ ‘Mom, it has to be a diner,’ “ said Michele Haddad.
The diner features 1950s memorabilia, everything from a cardboard cutout of Elvis, to the neon blue lights in the ceiling fans and classic car models that adorn every table.
“All the photographs on the wall come from calendars,” said Dan Haddad.
There are photos of Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball and Frank Sinatra, and of course, Elvis. They are looking for a jukebox to enhance the atmosphere — one with 45s if possible — if they can locate one for a reasonable price.
So far, business has been good, according to Michele Haddad, who spends most of her time in the restaurant working the counter. The diner is open for breakfast and lunch and the menu includes the James Dean Omelet, the Elvis breakfast, the Marilyn breakfast and the stack of 45s — three pancakes, two eggs and bacon or sausage. There’s also the standard fare: Philly cheese steak, corned beef reuben, grilled chicken sandwich, grouper (blackened or grilled), burgers and chili dog.
There are currently no desserts on the written menu, but they offer a devilish chocolate cake that can satisfy even the sweetest tooth.
As with any new business there have been a couple of glitches, including an incorrect fax number on the current menu.
“The numbers were transposed during the printing. It’s no wonder we didn’t get any of the lunch orders,” said Michele.
The two have received an education in small business ownership, dealing with things such as changing a decor that used to be a mix of bright pink and teal to working long hours to building a staff.
As they settle into a steady routine, Michele Haddad plans to take a less active role in the day-to-day operations, leaving most of that for her son to handle.