(Danville) — A Danville dining institution has dished out their last supper.
The owners of Mary’s Diner this weekend announced that they were closing on Sunday. The usual post-Church lunch crowd was a bit thicker than normal Sunday as patrons lined up for one final lunch from a restaurant that’s fed generations of Danville residents.
Mary’s Diner opened on Arnett Boulevard in 1951. Five years later, they moved to their current location on Piney Forest Road. It was a popular stop for politicians stumping in Danville and the front of the restaurant was often dotted with political signs during election season.
Mary Williams opened the diner 73 years ago, focusing on traditional southern home-cooked food. Current owner Jimmy Farlow, Williams’ grandson, says inflation has led to lagging sales the past three years. The restaurant was put up for sale about a year ago, but there were apparently no takers.
Farlow tells the Register and Bee they have 37 employees—many of whom have worked there for 20 years or more.