When Turners Falls resident Chuck Garbiel purchased the Shady Glen diner in 2012, it was certainly a “local boy makes good” type story.
But recreating the success this eatery had enjoyed for over 40 years would be a steep hill to climb, as the restaurant had gone through three different owners in the last ten years before he bought it.
One decade later, and this once proud diner that appeared to be on its last legs has once again become, like the song says, “a place where everyone knows your name.”
Connecting Point’s Brian Sullivan dropped by the Shady Glen for a hot cup of joe and a side of some local flavor.
This segment originally aired on March 31, 2022.
Read the full transcription:
Zydalis Bauer, Connecting Point: When Turners Falls resident Chuck Garbiel purchased the Shady Glen Diner in 2012, it was certainly a local boy, makes good type of story.
But recreating the success this eatery had enjoyed for over 40 years would be a steep hill to climb, as the restaurant had gone through three different owners in the last ten years before he bought it.
One decade later, and this once proud diner that appeared to be on its last legs has once again become, like the song says, “a place where everyone knows your name.”
Connecting Point’s Brian Sullivan dropped by the Shady Glen for a hot cup of joe and a side of some local flavor.
Brian Sullivan, Connecting Point: Is there ever a time that a cup of coffee is more than just a cup of coffee? Well, to ask most coffee drinkers, they’ll say that every cup is special.
But there are those times when it’s just a little more special. Maybe it’s the first one of the day or during breakfast with a loved one. Maybe it’s during a get together with friends as they try to solve the world’s problems, share a few laughs, and do it all before the sun is all the way up.
Albert Cummings, Turners Falls Resident: The four of us are good friends. We met coming in here and it just started…every morning, we’ll be here at 8:00 in the morning for our coffee.
Brian Sullivan: The here in question is a place known as the Shady Glen Diner in Turners Falls. Folks crossing the Turners Falls Gill Bridge can find it almost immediately on the left, at the corner of First Street and Avenue A.
In these times where decorum often supersedes content, what stands out most about the Shady Glen is its simplicity. That in the larger-than-life presence of owner Chuck Garbiel behind the counter. Not only does he look like a pro wrestler, he’s got the pictures on the wall showing he’s not one to be trifled with.
But the customers who know him aren’t exactly shaking in their boots.
Annette Krejmas, Tuners Falls Resident: I think he’s a hoot. He’s a nice guy. And I think he cares, you know, about other people.
He’s a selectman up in Gill now, so that shows that he’s involved.
Brian Sullivan: While making sure the food gets to the customers hot and fast from the griddle may be priority number one around here, giving customers at the Shady Glen the feeling that they’re in a special club whenever they’re here is a close second.
Chuck Garbiel: I’ve got regulars that have been coming since day one. And — and whatever topic you want to pick: religion, politics, health, whatever. We’ve agreed, disagreed, totally disagreed, totally agreed.
But it’s just — you’re right. People come in certain times, certain time of the day. They know whoever else is going to be here at that time, so they know it’s going to be like a fun time or a hot topic or whatever.
And so, they just — the regulars just come. It’s like clockwork. I know what time of day it is by who’s showing up.
Brian Sullivan: Garbiel may be a fixture here now, but it almost didn’t come to pass.
Before purchasing the diner in 2012, his sights were set on buying the local pizza place where he’d worked for several years. When that deal fell through, the Shady Glen became available.
The year 2022 makes it ten straight years where hardly a day has gone by that Chuck wasn’t behind the counter. And that’s a fact that actually has a little bit of irony to it.
Chuck Garbiel: I think I was the only kid in high school that didn’t work here, so I guess to make up for lost time, I just bought it.
Brian Sullivan: The uniqueness of the Shady Glen extends beyond just the dining experience. It also applies to its appearance. The images of rectangular, shiny metal structures with rounded corners and neon signs often come to mind when people think of what an American diner should look like.
This diner, not so much. In the past when we looked at some local diners, the year that it was made, usually determined what model it was. It could have been anything from a Fedaro to a Coleman Princess to a Worcester. But the Shady Glen Diner here on Avenue A in Turners Falls was none of those things.
This building actually used to be a Tastee Freez from the 1950s. No matter what this building was, what it is now is a place where locals can show up with a few bucks, get a hot breakfast, and have some fun conversation.
Chuck Garbiel: Like, “Oh, it’s on them today.”
Jay Blier, Turners Falls Resident: It’s like Norm on Cheers. Everybody knows your name. You want to — you want to come in, just even if it’s for a few minutes.
If I’m going out on a road call or something like that, I’ll stop in and have a quick breakfast because he makes it like that and a cup of coffee and on the road.
Sean Crowell, Tuners Falls Resident: A lot of people come together and get talk about what’s going on and just enjoy yourself for the time.
From local sporting events to local — other theater plays and all that stuff, one it keeps the community vibe so alive.
Annette Krejmas: It’s like a second home in a way, you know? I come in here and relax, talk to people when I want to. They talk to me, read a book, eat my — eat good food.
You know, it’s just like being at home!
Brian Sullivan: Is it possible that Garbiel envisioned this kind of response when he bought the place in 2012? Maybe.
But after a run of success by the original owner that lasted over 40 years, the Glen went through three different owners in the ten-year span prior to Garbiel’s purchase, so expectations may have been a bit tempered.
Chuck Garbiel: When I took over, it was like the big, like, “Oh, the local boy buys the place” and stuff.
And — and people actually started coming back and coming in. And I always just said, you know, like, “Hey, just come give us a try. And if you still don’t like it, no hard feelings.”
And you know, then they got to see the staff and meet the people and — and watch us cook and, you know, and some some didn’t come back, but most of them did.
And they have a good time. And they enjoyed the food and the — the, as I call it, the entertainment while we’re here, because we’re right out in front cooking for you and then talking.
And so, you know, it’s nice you can have a conversation with the customer and — and cook at the same time.
