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Today, I had the good fortune to have an excuse to drive down I-395 in Connecticut just in time for lunch at Zip's Diner in Dayville. Sadly, I must admit a extended absense from a great diner that I usually managed to visit at least a few times a year. In fact, just discovering Zip's will forever stay etched in memory. Back in the early days of Roadside and diner finding, Roadside co-founder Marjorie Norman and I would take a quick look at a map and point to a route that we had yet to cover. That weekend, we picked Route 12 from Auburn, Massachusetts south.
During these years, with the dire absense of any guides for finding these gems, we had to rely upon tips from friends and friends-of-friends to tell us where to find a classic diner. In early 1990, no one tipped us off to this great institution.
Kevin Cole, third generation to take on the ever-sparkling Zip's Diner.
Never discount the value of good, stylish signage, for if we had not seen the towering "EAT" neon, we had drive right past the place. Instead, a love affair began that day. I've already written much about Zip's, including a feature in my book Diners of New England, but my absense from the road in the past few years meant a failure to mention that the spatula had passed at Zip's. Two years ago, Kevin Cole became the proud new owner, stepping into a very big pair of shoes left behind by his uncle Tom Jodoin.
I had to admit, the purpose of this particular visit was to simply get a sense of Zip's status. A quick check-up, as it were, making sure I didn't seen brick climbing up the facade or a missing EAT sign. Instead, I found Zip's not only the same as it ever was, in some ways even a little better. Clean as ever, friendly as always, the diner also updated its menu, boasts a website, and (don't tell former owner Tom I said this) improved its coffee.
Indeed, I found Kevin out and about the diner, shaking hands, chatting up customers, and keeping a diner long-known as a well-oiled machine running smoothly. In our short conversation, Kevin impressed me with his energy and his bullishness on the local economy. As a young guy, nattily attired in a crisp shirt and tie (a standard Zip's uniform for managers there for as long as I can remember), I believed him when he assured me he was there for stay for a very long time. I look foreward to more visits and more chats. In the meantime, be sure to visit their website at www.zipsdiner.com and tell them Roadside sent you!
A great diner in a great part of New England. Merely the visage of this stainless steel behemoth puts one in awe of the care that went into crafting these gems. If you haven't been to Zips and you're anywhere within a half-day drive, pick up Diners of New England or the Diner Finder and make a road trip to see some of these great American institutions. Report back on the puddings.
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