Road work affects Coraopolis diner, but customers dig in

Neither rain nor sleet nor even the repaving of Ferree Street between Fourth and Fifth avenues in Coraopolis will keep the landmark Reas Restaurant from closing, unless of course its Monday, the only day the diner is closed.

The paving project, which is entering its fourth week, is expected to continue through the end of the month, but what makes this a headache to Joanna Rea and her mother, Connie, who have owned the Coraopolis diner since 1991, is the inconvenience it causes for her customers, some of whom have eaten there twice a day, six days a week.

Ms. Rea knows the road project is needed and said she will tough it out even though business has dropped off 15 percent to 20 percent in the past four weeks.

A lot of councilmen come in, so I knew what was going on, said Ms. Rea, who had to jump up several times during a recent interview to ring up customers.

This work was needed, she said. Everyone was complaining how bumpy the road was.

Thanks to the owners of Waynes Lounge, which is across the street, Reas diners can park in the taverns parking lot. Reas has a giant red banner at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Ferree that lets motorists coming off the Coraopolis-Neville Island Bridge know it is open during construction.

Even though Ms. Rea said business has dropped off since the closure of Ferree, it wasnt really evident during a recent Thursday afternoon visit to the diner. Despite the fact the diner was going to close in an hour, several tables were occupied, and all five of Ms. Reas employees were in constant motion.

Donna and George Lokey of Robinson just finished their tuna salad sandwiches and stopped to chat a minute with Ms. Rea. The Lokeys, who eat at the diner at least three times a month, said their favorite thing to eat there is breakfast that includes hot sausage. The Lokeys daughter, Patty, used to be a waitress at the diner.

Joe Rubino, another diner regular, said he eats at the restaurant five days a week. The Coraopolis resident said he is such a regular that he will help Ms. Rea and her staff with deliveries. In return, Mr. Rubino says, he gets his coffee half price.

The food is fantastic, said Mr. Rubino, who said he is such a regular that he has his own stool at the breakfast and lunch counter.

Originally posted here:
Road work affects Coraopolis diner, but customers dig in