The Flamingo Diner is back, but in a new, temporary location.
Weeks after a fire ravaged the diner in Plymouth Twp., its owner has resumed operations at a storefront on Main Street in Plymouth.
The owner of Duke’s Family Restaurant at 61 E. Main St. is allowing the Flamingo Diner to use its facility for breakfast and lunch until it can be determined if the fire-ravaged diner could be rebuilt in Plymouth Twp.
The Flamingo Diner will be open at Duke’s Family Restaurant daily 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Duke’s, which used to serve breakfast, will continue to operate Wednesday through Saturday, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 8 p.m.
Monday was the first day of the partnership.
“Today was really, really good,” said Flamingo Diner owner Seana Warman. “It was a lot of our regulars from the old place who showed up. It was very heartwarming. Our customers are number one.”
A fire gutted the Flamingo Diner at 175 U.S. Route 11 on Jan. 27 and the owner of the building is still determining if the property could be restored, Warman said.
Warman, 37, said she worked at the diner for about a decade before taking over and leasing the eatery a year ago.
After the fire, Kim Murphy, the owner of Duke’s, reached out to Warman to see if she needed assistance and offered the space in Plymouth for her to temporarily reopen.
Warman said she is thankful to have the chance.
“She said, ‘I want to pay it forward,’” Warman said. “It was essential to me. Buying all the equipment brand new, I wouldn’t have been able to.”
Bob Kalinowski works for The Citizens’ Voice in Wilkes-Barre. Reach him at bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2055 or @cvbobkal on Twitter.