{"id":103231,"date":"2024-10-02T09:24:14","date_gmt":"2024-10-02T13:24:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/?p=103231"},"modified":"2024-10-03T07:11:34","modified_gmt":"2024-10-03T11:11:34","slug":"owegos-harris-diner-celebrates-centennial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2024\/10\/02\/owegos-harris-diner-celebrates-centennial\/","title":{"rendered":"Owego\u2019s Harris Diner Celebrates Centennial!"},"content":{"rendered":"

By JoAnn R. Walter —<\/span><\/p>\n

Harris Diner, located at 79 North Ave. in Owego, N.Y., has reason to celebrate.  It was 100 years ago, and on Sept. 24, 1924, that the first diner graced the property.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sam Harris, owner and operator since 1982, says that his customers are like family and, along with his staff, welcomed all to celebrate the special occasion.  Customers were invited to take a trip back in time on Sept. 24, and to dine as if it were the 1950\u2019s again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Long-time server Melissa Cotton commented, \u201cFor all of the years you\u2019ve kept us busy, we\u2019re paying you back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Owego\u2019s<\/a>

From left, Melissa Cotton and Sam Harris pose with a framed photo of Sam’s mother, Louise Harris, who was affectionately known as the “Pie Lady,” inside the Harris Diner in Owego, N.Y. (JoAnn R. Walter photo)<\/p><\/div>\n

Harris Diner serves up something for every appetite, from breakfast fare to sandwiches, soups and salads, and stellar pies.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to their two-page Centennial Menu, fresh, piping hot coffee was served for ten cents. A piece of delicious homemade signature pie made by Melissa went for fifteen cents. Back then you could have had it a la mode for 25 cents.<\/span><\/p>\n

For the lunch crowd, a bowl of soup with crackers went for 20 cents, a hamburger was 25 cents, and a la carte French fries were 20 cents.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sam\u2019s mother, affectionately known as the \u201cPie Lady,\u201d prepared pies from scratch for years, and worked at the diner until age 90. Louise passed away in 2019, and her photo now rests in a frame near the register for all to see.<\/span><\/p>\n

And today, Melissa noted, \u201cApple pie is the most requested, everybody likes Mom\u2019s apple pie,\u201d and, for the Centennial, Melissa baked blueberry, pumpkin, peach, coconut cream, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

This writer noticed, too, that loyal patrons aren\u2019t shy about ordering their favorite slice of pie to accompany their breakfast.      <\/span><\/p>\n

Sam\u2019s parents, Ted and Louise Harris, brought the family into the diner business when Sam was growing up with his four brothers. Ted operated the well-known Coffee Brake Diner on Route 96 in Catatonk, and originally opened in 1970; since then, Sam has carried on the tradition in Owego.<\/span><\/p>\n

When asked about the future, Sam remarked, \u201cI\u2019m going to keep it going.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Prior to becoming Harris Diner, and from an article written by Town of Owego Historian Peter Gordon in January for this publication, the story of 79 North Ave. is an incredible chapter of village history.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gordon wrote that Bill Conway, from Lyons, N.Y. (between Rochester and Syracuse), was on his way to New Jersey to purchase a diner when his car broke down in Owego, N.Y. The year was 1924.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Conway waited for his car repair, he strolled around Owego. Conway acted upon an opportunity to rent the 79 North Ave. property, and referred to it as a \u201cpeanut stand\u201d in a 1974 \u201cOwego Gazette\u201d article.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Owego\u2019s<\/a>

To celebrate the Harris Diner Centennial, a menu serving up customer favorites, and all at 1950’s prices, will be available on Tuesday, Sept. 24. For information, call (607) 687-6689. Hours on Tuesday are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the celebration. (JoAnn R. Walter photo)<\/p><\/div>\n

Conway then purchased a prefab diner model from the O\u2019Mahoney Diner Co. in Elizabeth, N.J.  It was shipped to Owego via rail by the Lehigh Valley Railroad.<\/span><\/p>\n

Picture this; on Sept. 24, 1924, the Conway \u2018s Club Diner was towed to its new home on North Ave. by a team of horses!<\/span><\/p>\n

Gordon noted that the original structure was largely replaced.<\/span><\/p>\n

After the 2011 flood, a number of people helped get Harris Diner up and running.  Sam\u2019s place was actually one of the first establishments back open for business.   <\/span><\/p>\n

Fast-forward to today, and Harris Diner is a classic-style diner featuring a counter with stools and several cozy tables. The walls are adorned with numerous photos of baseball\u2019s iconic players including Sam\u2019s favorite, Mickey Mantle. A New York Yankees spatula hangs on the wall next to Sam\u2019s grill; on an adjacent wall you\u2019ll find a Lou Gehrig license plate.<\/span><\/p>\n

As you wait for your order, take notice of shelves filled with vintage and amusing coffee mugs, and set aside for the regulars who frequent the diner. For the Centennial, Harris Diner sold mugs with the dates 1924-2024, and imprinted with the sentiment, \u201cEat Better with Sam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Sam\u2019s generosity has helped many, including his brother Bobby. Pastor Bobby Harris, of Haven of Rest Ministries, has been holding a Men\u2019s Bible Study at the Harris Diner on Wednesday\u2019s for several weeks now, and after the group had to vacate their previous gathering place.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pastor Bobby is thankful for Sam\u2019s huge heart, and prays that the group will find a new place in the near future. Serving and helping those in need in the community is all part of the Harris family legacy. <\/span><\/p>\n

Harris Diner is located near the Historic Owego Fire Station. Hours are Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., and on Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon.  <\/span><\/p>\n

For more information, give the diner a call at (607) 687-6689. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By JoAnn R. Walter — Harris Diner, located at 79 North Ave. in Owego, N.Y., has reason to celebrate.  It was 100 years ago, and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":103232,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-103231","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nOwego\u2019s Harris Diner Celebrates Centennial! - Owego Pennysaver Press<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2024\/10\/02\/owegos-harris-diner-celebrates-centennial\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Owego\u2019s Harris Diner Celebrates Centennial! - Owego Pennysaver Press\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By JoAnn R. 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