Blackfoot Truckstop Diner: 60 years of family service, retro atmosphere
The Blackfoot Truckstop Diner, an iconic Inglewood establishment, this June celebrates 60 years of serving Calgarians everything from lemon meringue pie to milkshakes.
Stepping into the diner and seeing the hot pink walls, hearing the sound of the jukeboxes, it all takes you back to another time. Taking your seat, you can count on being called "hon" by your server as she sets down the thick and delicious milkshake.
"It's all about the people," said Terry Taylor, a co-owner of the diner. "It's down to earth, nothing fancy."
Terry and his sister Roxanne Taylor inherited the diner from their late mother, Edna Taylor, in 2011 when she died.
Situated on leased land at the corner of 9 Avenue and 19 Street in the southeast, the pair says the longevity of the business is all a testament to Edna. As a reminder of her, a painting of an angel adorns the doorway of the diner.
"It's to remind us that she's watching over us, even now and we better be doing a good job, because she had rules and we better follow them," Roxanne say laughing.
A real family business
One of the rules imposed by Edna, was the six-inch-meringue rule.
"It's one of the things the diner was so well known for, the pie," Roxanne said. Adding that her mother was not above taking a ruler to the towering meringue.
Diane Wnuk, Edna's sister, recalls her time as a waitress, working hard but loving the staff like family. Of course, many of the staff were family. Regular customers included truckers coming in from across the continent who came for the food but stayed for the genuine family service.
"They were great. Great. If we ever had a problem, they would back us up like you wouldn't believe," Wnuk said.
Edna's brother, Emery Eslinger, worked at the restaurant from 1984 until 2013 and enjoyed doing the books, but working seven days a week, he had his hands in just about everything.
Elvira MacKenzie, Edna's oldest sister, worked at the restaurant for about 40 years. She recalls Christmas Day being the only day the restaurant closed its doors, until one year Edna decided she didn't want to leave anyone out in the cold.
"And every Christmas Day, I worked for her," MacKenzie said.
Edna had stroke while on a catering job in 2011 with her daughter, working right up until the minute it happened.
"At first, it was really hard to come here. I was so heartbroken because it was so sudden. But then I thought, that first Christmas, this is what she would want us to do," she said.
'She's my blessing'
While the diner has stayed in the Taylor family, Tanyia Brown is the woman in charge these days.
"She's my blessing," Terry said.
Brown, 32, has worked at the diner for 15 years, learning the ropes from Edna while she was still around.
"I learned everything from her," Brown said, "(she was) a huge blessing to my life."
The family acknowledges how rare it is for a business to stay open 60 years. Though they can't name just one secret to success, community is key.
"Everybody wants to be loved and for some reason, this place kind of shows that, from the waitresses' care, to the staff, to the customers, across generations," Terry said.
"Things evolve and change but I think it's not about any specific thing, but the people. The people feel like they are our somebody."
