The story was almost too good to be believed. John Krissinger, a Chagrin Falls grad, was scouring the business-for-sale websites looking for a Cleveland-based restaurant when he happened upon a listing for Dink’s diner, a beloved community asset for more than 50 years.

“If somebody would have told me 30 years ago that I would end up owning a restaurant in Chagrin Falls, I would have laughed at them,” Krissinger told me soon after opening.

Today, North Main Diner (16 North Main St.) has closed, lasting just two years and following in the steps of Fresh Start Diner and Dink’s before it.

Krissinger’s goal was to return the diner to its glory days, when families in search of wholesome, affordable and unfussy food would keep the servers hopping morning, noon and night.

“I want this to be like Dink’s used to be, a place where everybody in town would gather – the townie place, and a place you could afford to come,” he said.

Krissinger even rescued and restored an old soda fountain so that he could offer authentic egg creams, phosphates, malted milks and milkshakes, which were hand-scooped and blended on a vintage milkshake mixer.

Hopefully there will be another sentimental, nostalgic operator who can’t help but step in to try and save the diner. If and when that happens, we’ll be the first in line for a refreshing New York egg cream.

This article appears in Jan 24-30, 2018.

For 25 years, Douglas Trattner has worked as a full-time freelance writer, editor and author. His work as co-author on Michael Symon's cookbooks have earned him four New York Times Best-Selling Author honors, while his longstanding role as Scene dining editor has garnered awards of its own.

6 replies on “North Main Diner in Chagrin Falls has Closed”

  1. Their food was really good, but there was something about the interior that was unappealing. I didnt like going there. I hope whoever takes it over remodels first.

  4. Problem with small diners is there is not enough seats for meal rush hour. People end up going elsewhere if seats are not available. With more seats the same staff can service more customers and thus higher sales. A few people sipping just coffee kills ya with no turnover. Its all about economy of scale. The only way to overcome this is by charging higher prices but that usually won’t work either. The current owner probably found that out.

  5. Cant believe it took that long to close – food was awful. We were locals and daily regulars at the diners predecessor. We wanted to like this one and gave it several tries, but hated it. It was always empty while there was a wait at Yours Truly – says it all. Too bad the enthusiastic, hometown boy couldnt make it work.

  6. I had an overpriced phosphate and never went back. Sad it wasnt more appealing to more people.

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