Main Street Diner is a meeting place for many

• Main Street Diner is a meeting place for those looking for a good breakfast or lunch.
• The restaurant has been part of Johnstown since the early 1900s.
• Jim and Cathy Wolgamot have owned it since 1999.

JOHNSTOWN – Jim Wolgamot and his wife Cathy have a lot of memories of their time at Main Street Diner.

They aren't the only ones. Many of the customers who walk through the door, or sit at the counter, have told them stories about the eatery.

That's what happens when you own a restaurant that's been part of the Johnstown community since the early 1900s.

When Jim and Cathy bought the restaurant in 1999, they added a few things, including new dishes to the menu. But the atmosphere of the place has stayed the same.

"It is definitely a place where people can meet and feel comfortable," he said. "They're not rushed. They can take their time."

The diner, located at 16 S. Main St. in Johnstown, serves up breakfast and lunch six days a week. Its omelets, burgers and daily specials, such as liver and onions, meatloaf and chicken and noodles, are popular with customers, Jim said.

"It's mostly home cooking, we don't use a lot of packages items. Everything is made from scratch," he said.

The restaurant is popular with farmers, senior citizens and families. Jim is looking forward to seeing cyclists stop in for lunch in a few weeks when they start riding the T.J. Evans trail.

"Some of them are people coming from Columbus," he said "They are tired of chains and looking for a home cooked meal."

Some of their recipes have been passed on through the decades. Others came from Jim, Cathy or their employees.

"A lot of times, if someone wants something special, we do our best to accommodate them," he said.

When photographer Sara Tobias and I stopped at the diner, it was early enough in the day that brunch seemed appropriate.

We split a country omelet ($6.39), which came stuffed with onions, deliciously seasoned fried potatoes and cheddar cheese. It was topped with tasty sausage gravy, which also tasted great with a forkful of hash browns.

We also shared a pepper burger ($6.39) and onion rings. The burger itself was huge, perfectly cooked and covered with onions and jalapeno, banana and bell peppers, which gave it a lot of heat and a great texture. I was a big fan of the hot ranch dipping sauce served on the side. The sauce was also great for dipping our onion rings.

As we enjoyed our food, we watched Jim and Cathy greet their customers. They know most of them by name.

"It's just a family atmosphere. We want them feeling comfortable whether it's a good day or a bad day. They can come here and take a little bit of a stressful day and not be so stressed," Jim said. "And we really want them to enjoy the food they really like to eat and most people do."

ajeffries@newarkadvocate.com

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Twitter: @amsjeffries

PROFILE: 'More than a job'

Jim Wolgamot always wanted to own his own business.

He owned a Quizno's franchise in Westerville from 1996 to 2003 but wanted more autonomy.

Owning Main Street Diner gave him and his wife Cathy the chance to make more of their own decisions. And it's been a lot of fun, he said.

"We've met a lot of great people in here and developed a lot of great friendships," he said. "It's just a fun place to be."

Formerly known as Main Street Cafe, the eatery has been a restaurant for close to 100 years, Jim said. The Johnstown Historical Society can trace the owners back to 1931 and restaurant might have started as early as 1911 or 1913.

"We've had family members of former owners who've stopped in," he said. "Being established that long, there's a lot of history and memories for this town."

Many of Jim and Cathy's employees have been at the diner for many years. Those who have moved on keep in touch on social media.

"We've become more like a family, we depend on each other," he said. "I have a great staff."

The Wolgamots' children have helped their parents out at the restaurant and it's given Jim and Cathy the chance to spend more time together, with people they care about.

"It's more then a job, we've developed a lot of relationships," Jim said. "Our customers have been very loyal and we try to be loyal back."

What you need to know

What's so special

• Breakfast and lunch items made from scratch

• Daily specials

• A laid back diner atmosphere

Show me the door

Main Street Diner is located at 16 S. Main St., in Johnstown. For more information, call 740-967-2710 or go to facebook.com/MainStreetDining.

Just tell me when

6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Closed Sundays.

In his own words

Video interview with owner Jim Wolgamot online at NewarkAdvocate.com.