When Commercial St. Diner opens at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Janet Laird will have fulfilled her longtime dream of owning a restaurant. On Tuesday, Laird and her husband, Dave, take over the business from Roger Buffum, whose last day at the restaurant he’s owned for 16 years is today.
For Janet Laird, restaurant ownership is the start of the next chapter in a 30-year journey.
“I’ve been in the restaurant business for 30-plus years,” she said. “I’ve done everything from waiting tables to managing.”
Laird, who moved to the Emporia area when she was 3, has spent her career in Wichita and Emporia. She most recently worked at Bobby D’s Merchant St. BBQ. She didn’t decide to own a restaurant until she finished earning a business degree from Emporia State University.
“When I got my degree, I wanted to use it for something I knew,” she explained.
She started looking for a building where she could open a restaurant but wasn’t having luck. Then, she stopped in to eat at Commercial St. Diner with her son, Jacob Brotbeck. She ended up asking Roger and Linda Buffum if they’d considered selling their restaurant.
Shortly after that, Laird said, Linda Buffum died. Then, there were financing difficulties brought on by the economy and changes in banking policies. Rather that use their farm as collateral, the Lairds ended up selling it to have cash.
“It took about a year,” she said, for everything to come together.
Now, she’s ready to go.
For now, plans only a few menu changes. But when the water main project is completed on Commercial Street, Laird plans a grand opening to kick off some changes. The most noticeable will be the hours.
The diner is open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 6 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday. This fall, it will add evening hours, Laird said, staying open until 8. It also will be open on Sundays.
And look for pies and desserts on the menu.
“I am a sugar freak,” Laird said.
Unfortunately, she added, “I cannot make good piecrust.”
She’s hoping her stepmother, Charlotte Smith, who used to own S&S Cafe, will teach David Laird to make pies.
For now, David Laird is working his full-time job at Carquest.
“Our goal is to get us both in here,” she said.
Janet Laird will be at the restaurant full-time doing just about everything.
“I’ll be a lot in the kitchen. I also enjoy schmoozing and talking to people.”
And although she has ideas for additions to the menu, she’s also open to suggestions.
“I’m a sucker for spoiling the customers,” she said.
bloomsbury (SC DIXON) says...
The very best of luck to you...I hope you can keep up the high quality of the breakfasts there, but we're very excited to hear of plans to be open evenings and Sundays...give it time, but I believe that will work for you...it just takes people time to change their habits and for the (good) word to spread.
June 19, 2010 at 2:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
detailing (anonymous) says...
We at JT Chopper Detailing, are very Happy for you and hope you the best in your New Business.
Hard work and the love of what you love to do will make your business the best!
GOOD LUCK!
JT
June 19, 2010 at 2:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
Best wishes Janet. Customer service , quality and cleanliness will make you a success
Edward McKernan
June 19, 2010 at 6:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
May you enjoy great success. Service, food quality, and cleanliness will certainly be a boon, but have you seen some of those "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" episodes on Food TV? Lots of great ideas there that have really made those restaurants successful. Some of those breakfasts are out of the ordinary. How about a really great homemade hash and eggs breakfast in addition to the ordinary offerings? And please, no MSG, not even in any commercial sauces you may use.
June 21, 2010 at 8:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DJrocksthemic (anonymous) says...
Hey Create, a fellow anti-MSG person, I have good news for you, keep your eyes on the Kansas Legislature this year.
June 21, 2010 at 9:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
"keep your eyes on the Kansas Legislature this year. "
Just what we need to stimulate the economy, $$$$$Thousands spent on legislation to tell us what we can or can't eat.
June 21, 2010 at 9:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DJrocksthemic (anonymous) says...
We already spent millions for people with peanut and shellfish allergies, how is it fair to people with MSG allergies to not have it clearly labeled. I'll let you smoke your cigarettes cause atleast they tell you what's in them, I spent an entire day on the floor after throwing up because a restuarant "assured" me their was no MSG in their food.
June 21, 2010 at 11:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Thanks so much for the info about Kansas Legislature and MSG, DJrocks. I have been fighting this for years and I look forward to some good news.
Restaurants like to claim they are not using MSG, but what they fail to do is check the labels of the sauces and things they add to their scratch cooking.
Sorry neighbor, but MSG is highly toxic to those of us who cannot tolerate it. I've spent time on the bathroom floor myself when some restaurant assured me it wasn't present.
So many producers like to sneak it into their products. They follow labeling rules, but they use it anyway. There needs to be a law preventing its use altogether in my book. It's not only Asian foods that are the culprits. There should be heavy fines for those who disregard labeling laws.
June 21, 2010 at 12:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DJrocksthemic (anonymous) says...
Agreed Create, and though i don't neccisarily feel it should be outlawed all together, I do want to see better labeling, currently their are 17 different market names for MSG on any given label. For those who are intolerant this causes alot of uneasyness from the restuarant to the grocery store. It takes me about two hours to shop now when it used to take about 30 minutes.
June 21, 2010 at 2:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TexasGirl (anonymous) says...
Best wishes and success to you, Janet! PLEASE keep the European Omelet, that's my favorite!
June 21, 2010 at 4:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DJrocksthemic (anonymous) says...
Create my email is atsterling@hotmail.com if you have any restuarant tips and or foods that are good to pass along to someone who only recently found out about their intolerance.
June 22, 2010 at 9:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Will do.
June 22, 2010 at 4:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Last night, I saw a program on the Food Channel describing a place in Texas that served nothing but dinner-plate sized Chicken Fried Steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, blackeyed peas, cream gravy, and hot rolls. Everyday. Nothing but. People stood in line to get in and raved about the flavor.
Maybe the new owners of Commercial Street Diner will consider such a thing. Hmmmm, like on Sundays, serve nothing but one thing like CFS, the best you can make. If you fry it they will come.
June 23, 2010 at 8:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
captkirk (anonymous) says...
I am sure that you will do well, with your philosophy of life and work... and you will be happy while making others smile as well.
Congratulation
July 21, 2010 at 2:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )