New Miss Adams Diner Owner Hopes to Keep Legacy Alive
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| Oleskiewicz said the opening on Dec. 16 went well, noting that he has received significant support from the community. |
ADAMS, Mass. — Adding another note to its over 70-year history, Miss Adams Diner has reopened under new owner Peter Oleskiewicz.
"I have always wanted this place," Oleskiewicz said, explaining that he considered it a no-brainer to buy when the opportunity came.
Oleskiewicz, a North Adams City Council member and owner of Desperados in North Adams, said the opening on Dec. 16 went well, with only a few tweaks needed. He explained the Adams community and town officials have been welcoming and supportive so far.
"They were absolutely, incredibly awesome," he said. "The reception I'm receiving from the people in town, rave reviews. Everybody that has come in has been happy."
Oleskiewicz purchased the 53 Park Street property, which has gone through several owners, names and iterations since it originally opened in 1949, in Sept. 2020. He said he wants to honor its legacy and plans to keep many of the diner's original touches while restoring broken things, such as the clock on the diner's sign.
"I don't want any of my own personal touches in here," he said. "Some people will come into a place like this, and they'll have like a country kitchen theme. That's not what this is; this is a Worcester lunch car diner. So I want to keep everything pretty much as to what it was and continue on."
Currently, the diner is open from 7 p.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. Oleskiewicz plans on expanding the days in the weeks to come.
"Hopefully, in the next few weeks, we can adjust to six days," he said. "So my head cook is going to sample some schedules where we can open six days."
Oleskiewicz said getting necessary supplies to support the menu has been one issue, as the pandemic continues to cause supply chain issues in many industries. He said, in addition to shortages caused by the pandemic, he is still working with customers and staff to figure out what items work best for the menu.
"I'm all about consistency, but here, we're new," he said. "So you're sampling different products, seeing what works. You get feedback from customers."
Oleskiewicz recognized the importance of his employees in making the opening a success. He said maintaining a high quality of life for his staff is something he puts significant focus on.
"The employees are always number one," he said. "They're these guys are the ones that make these places tick. It's not me."
Oleskiewicz said he hopes the diner can become a community staple again as it has been in years past. He said he thinks he can work well with other businesses throughout Adams.
"I feel very strongly we're going to have a lot of regulars. I feel strongly that I'm going to work well with the Daily Grind down the street," he said, noting that he referred customers there when the diner ran out of room during the opening week. "We're busy, they're busy, and we're gonna feed off [eachother]."
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