COLONY — A lot has changed for Roger Young over the past few months, proving that sometimes the best things come from the grimmest circumstances. YOUNG SAID there has been gap in the community since the diner was destroyed.
On Dec. 4, Young woke up to sirens to find that the Colony Diner — which he is now the full owner — was completely engulfed in flames. It destroyed the diner, along with its neighbor Colony Foods.
On Thursday morning, just over a month after the blaze, Young sat in his truck, eyeing the foundation of what will be the new and improved Colony Diner — a phoenix from the ashes story, so to speak.
“It’s going to be all around better, bigger and more modern,” Young said. “Luckily with the bad, some good has come out of it.”
Gary and LaNell Knoll were co-owners of the diner with Young, but decided to bow out after the fire. Young purchased their portion of the ownership.
He has big plans for his new baby.
The space left by the fire, next to the Colony Post Office, will be filled by the new building, constructed by QSI Structures of Richmond. The kitchen will be twice the size of the original, there will be a front porch with outdoor seating options and an indoor dining space. An updated menu will feature steak and broasted chicken on a daily basis.
Young said he originally contemplated building in the original space, but decided it was too cramped for the plans he has. The empty spot will be a “community area” with picnic tables and a basketball goal.
He said the community has showed support all around for the construction, and is just as excited as he is to get the doors open once again.
“It’s done and over with and nobody was hurt,” Young said of the blaze. “I’m excited to see the community come back together, it’s like it’s their baby, too.”
As for the investigations following the fire, Young said the insurance investigator’s office could make no conclusion as to the cause. It’s officially listed as “undetermined, no cause.” He said the fire burned very hot, and left little for investigators to sift through.
“As far as I know, green aliens came down and started it,” he said.
All of the employees from the original diner will be back to work when the new building opens. Young said he hopes to be up and running by the first of March. Employees received their paychecks for 60 days following the fire — part of the immense amount of support the insurance company has given the business.
“Everybody has been so helpful,” he said. “That’s just what small communities do.”
For now, he will be working to get everything going for the next phase of his business’ future. There will be a grand opening celebration to kick off the opening.
“We are ready to get back open,” he said. “I’m anxious and ready to get back to work.”
A happy ending after all – Colony Diner being rebuilt after December blaze
