What Happened to Douglasville Diner?
One hint might be that the owners took the "Diner" part of the sign with them. Tell us your thoughts about the diner in our comments section below this article.
On March 6, I received an email from an avid Douglasville Patch viewer that said the Douglasville Diner was closing its doors. The subject line read: Douglasville Diner RIP. The Patch viewer said he was there the night they closed their doors and that movers were there cleaning the place out.
I found it hard to believe because they had just opened the place on May 24 and had clearly spent a lot of money for the sign and the remodel of the former Ruby Tuesday building. However, this Patch viewer snapped a photo of the sign on the door (attached), with his cell phone. The sign read, "We would like to thank all of our customers for your patronage. We will be closing our doors at 4 p.m. on March 5." Initially the sign said 5 p.m. but someone was apparently anxious to get going and crossed out the 5 p.m., changing it to 4 p.m.
One of our blog writers, Lindsay Millett wrote a piece on July 22, titled, The Douglasville Diner Disaster. "All in all, the diner was a disgrace," she concluded. "It embarrasses me to see my hometown’s name on the building after the experience I had. I would suggest maybe opening a smaller, much smaller, dessert bar and changing the name to possibly the Douglasville Bakery. This is not what the doctor ordered."
The blog received 58 comments and 39 Facebook recommends. Some people agreed with her and some people didn't.
On Aug. 25, Sara Ray of the Douglas County Chamber, shared an article with Patch about the diner joining the Chamber. "The locally-famous Carrollton Diner has taken its popularity to the next level and owner Dimitrios Goumas opened Douglasville Diner located at 9579 Highway 5 in Douglasville," reads the article.
Upon finding out the diner was closing, I wanted to do a story and thought I would go to the Carrollton location and ask the owners what happened. So I Googled the Carrollton location to find the address. What I found, instead, was a website called thecarrolltonmenu.com. They were reporting, "Our predictions were right with the possible closing of the Carrollton Diner at The Carrollton Crossroads shopping center. As of Feb 9th The Carrollton Diner has closed."
So they actually closed their Carrollton location before the Douglasville one.
Coincidentally, I was recently meeting someone at the location where the diner used to be and ran into Rome Smith. He is a route supervisor for Auto-Chlor System. It's a commercial dishwashing and sanitation systems business. He was sitting outside the diner building in his truck and I struck up a conversation with him.
He said his company has a commercial dishwashing unit in the building that is worth about $6,000 and there are outstanding invoices worth $743.67 that the diner owners owe. He said his company was given a one-day notice that the diner was closing. An Auto-Chlor System representative arrived about an hour late and the diner doors were locked.
He said the diner owners left no forwarding address and his home office will turn the matter over to a collections agency.
I've talked to several people around town and there are a lot of rumors but no facts as to what happened to the diner. The overall consences seems to be that the diner's demise wasn't business related but family related in some way. I did manage to turn up a phone number for the owner but there is never an answer and the voicemail has been constantly full.
There is another rumor that the family plans to open a diner somewhere in Alabama. There's no proof of that but I did notice one interesting fact that might validate that rumor. The diner sign once read, "Douglasville Diner," which lit up in bright red letters. I guess each word was its own sign because all that is remaining of the sign today is a bright red "Douglasville." Apparently they took the word "Diner" with them.
Tell us your thoughts about the diner in our comments section below this article.
In This article
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Lindsay Millett
Joined Patch Wednesday, June 8, 2011 -
Douglas County Chamber of Commerce
6658 Church Street, Douglasvile, GA -
Ruby Tuesday
9579 Highway 5, Douglasville, GA
Dick Jones
12:29 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Douglasville Diner = Bad food that was prepared not to order, bad service and long waits after one has been seated. Hopefully, they will put something worthwhile there to replace the Douglasville Diner. Personally, I am voting for a Shakey's Pizza Parlor. We drive to the one in Auburn, AL (100 miles) to get our pizza, chicken and Mojo Potato fix.
By the way, the "Avid Douglasville Viewer" appreciates the nod in your article.
John Barker
1:09 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Wasn't sure you wanted to be listed by name, but thanks for all of your help with this!
christopher a brewer
2:36 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
yea i didnt like it either me and my girlfriend whole family went they all hated it and every one i have talk to about said the same
debra woodard
12:54 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
I'd like to have a "Steak & Shake"! we seem to have almost every possible chain except them!
Sally Atchley Eidson
1:17 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
We moved from Chattanooga and have been Very surprised and Disappointed with the lack of good restaurants in this area. What happened to Chili's? Was it the location or what? Gee, all of the Chili's in Chattanooga are Always full. We also LOVE PANERA BREAD!!!! To have to drive to the outskirts of Atlanta for Panera is rediculous! I would think their Pick 2 would go great in this area? Do I need to accept that this area just doesn't "get it," that people have no class/taste, that it's the economy, that it's more of a "bar area," or what? I just DON'T UNDERSTAND! The ONLY fast food I'd eat at around here is Chick-Fil-A--with the exception of Starbucks! I mentioned "fine food and class." There's many class restaurants that we enjoy, but we have to drive so far to dine there---even out of state. Let's get with the program!!! People, there's Nothing here, and I sure wish I could MOVE!
Dick Jones
1:23 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Steak & Shake, Cheeseburger Bobby's or a Jim N Nick's Bar B Que would be nice.
Melodie Janin
2:41 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
I am a little surprised by the comment "lack of good resturants", we have Red Lobster, Hudsons and Wallaces, Gumbo's, Long Horns, Carrabbas, Joe's Crab Shack, Provino's, The Japanese Steak house, even a family owned excellent Bagel Mister and many more on Hwy 5 as well as Chapel Hill and others in Lithia Springs, without listing them all, we have many, many good and some great restaurants. Of course I am not one to pay $10.00 for a sandwich which has been my experience with "bread" restaurants. I would love to see another bakery, I miss the one that use to be on Stewart Parkway, such great cakes and pastry's.
elaine davis
4:29 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
I agree with Mr. Jones
Sally Atchley Eidson
7:01 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
NO good bar-b-que anywhere near--will never go back to Hudson's and don't know what Wallaces is~ Hubby cannot eat shellfish and is afraid to go to the Crab Shack. Otherwise, I would try it. We've given up on Longhorn as our steak's been tough the last several times we went--Douglasville & Carrollton. We do like Carrabbas and Provino's, and my hubby loves their Spumoni ice cream---even ordered a tub from them for my hubby on Valentine's once. Don't know what Japanese Steak house you're talking about. Panera does NOT charge $10 for any sandwich!!! I would never think Bagel Mister is a restaurant, but I must be wrong. When we worked in Chattanooga, we ate at Panera's many many days on the way home from work because it was fresh, healthy, and not expensive-- Always got the Pick 2. Friends post about where they ate last night or just ate, and I write on FB "Don't have that here either."
Sally Atchley Eidson
7:02 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
I guess we're spoiled. We both like to cook, enjoy good and fine cuisine, and will pay more on special occasions~ If someone knows of any organic and neat restaurants in Atlanta, please let me know. I guess I can say our Favorite place to eat around this area is Gumbeaux's---www.gumbeauxs.com Love their blackened shrimp w/3-cheese grits, etc. Just love Gumbeaux's~ Guy from the Food Network needs to visit it, and I keep intending to write or contact whoever to get him to go there~ Gabe's in Villa Rica is really good....best to go at lunch as it's rather expensive at night...but good. By the way, the best 10 places to eat were on WXIA TV last night, and many are in Decatur~ Can't go there every day~ lol Sure looked good~ I'm VERY homesick here, but due to the economy w/housing, we can't move back to Chattanooga or anywhere for that matter. I WANT to be near a Fresh Market too, and that involves about an hour's drive. I'm sorry, but I'm just homesick. Grew up in Sevierville, and we moved to Chattanooga, and there I stayed until here.
Dick Jones
3:11 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
There actually are some pretty good eateries in this town. Don't forget Oz Pizza on Riverside Parkway. I am addicted to their sausage lasagna and their pizza rivals Fabiano's. Good stuff.
elaine davis
4:29 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
A friend in Carrollton said that the Carrollton Diner closed because the Kroger next door is remodeling and expanding and is taking over the space where the diner was.
Lisa Cooper
5:19 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
i went twice, and both times was disappointed with my food. Chicken fingers should not be grey on the inside.
Dick Jones
7:54 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Ohhhh..... How about Momoya/Golden Buddha? YUM! Pricey, but good stuff! Take it from me. I'm a fat guy. I know where the good food is. :)
elaine davis
8:29 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Wallace BBQ is the best!!!!!!
Lynn Hubbard
7:17 pm on Sunday, March 25, 2012
Yes, Wallace does have the Best Bar BQ!
Nancy Gonzalez
9:53 am on Thursday, March 22, 2012
Can't say I'll miss Dville Diner. Include in your list of great restaurants in the area: The Olive Tree (locations in Lithia Springs, Villa Rica, and Hiram), and Sakura (best sushi around).
Carol Cuendet
11:07 am on Thursday, March 22, 2012
I'm glad the Douglasville Diner is gone!! The food was awful and service was slow. The first and ONLY time I went there was enough for me. I ordered a salad. Now how can someone mess up a simple salad with steak? The steak looked like just a grey piece of meat. Would like to see a good resturant come back to that location. Douglasville needs some more resturants and not Mexican either!!
Cindy Ferguson
1:09 pm on Thursday, March 22, 2012
A great and overlooked restaurant is A Taste of Thai on Chapel Hill Rd! Our family liked The Diner and never had a problem; the country fried steak was always good. Maybe the Steak and Shake will finally come- who knows?!
Frank Satterfield
10:19 pm on Sunday, March 25, 2012
Mrs Eidson , if you really feel as your comment reads , you should probably find a way to move back to Chattanooga. I've been to Chattanooga many times and most people there are very nice. Most people here are nice too and are very happy with their eatery choices , close by and around Atlanta. The no class/taste insinuation about the people here in your comment leaves a little bit to be desired itself. Chattanooga is probably a good option.
Lissa Banx
5:32 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
a-freakin-men
Dawn Patterson
9:54 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
The only reason that the Carrollton and Douglasville Diner didn't make it was because they tried to be like the MARIETTA DINER and failed miserably! The quality, quantity and value was just not there. Even though the man that owned the two diners was given most of the recipes from Mr. Garidas of the Marietta Diner he chose to venture out on his own and did many things very wrong. My husband and I visited both locations and never went back, the food was awful and the service sucked. The closing of both of the locations was at his own hand, he has no one to blame but himself.
Carol Burchard
1:34 pm on Thursday, June 7, 2012
I have a lot of relatives in Chattanooga & go there often..they have some good eateries there but no more than here..u just have to look...all chains are alike...try some local.
Tammy Stoner
8:56 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Interesting piece about the Douglasville Diner. In Decatur, it was a year in the waiting for it to open, and they were packed with people waiting in line. Then after a year just closed. Had a prime location.
A friend and I went there and he kept saying, I will bet this place is a cover up for something else. He kept saying, wouldn't be surprised if they laundered money out the back door. I thought it a little rude to be saying that, and even told him so, but asked what makes you say that? It seemed pretty strange thing to say for a place that was packed with people, waiting in line. His comment was they are too smooth, too much food, too long to open, and they can't be making money with the portions. They are huge.
Watch, the portions will get smaller, and day by day they did. And lines now gone.
Then overnight, the diner just closed. In an instant, gone. And then I learn that the exact same thing happened in Douglasville, and I wonder what is going on?
That is a pretty outrageous thing for him to have said, especially since he had no evidence and facts.
Just wanted to give Douglasville some insight into what happened out this way. They closed overnight too.
Of course they could just be broke, or maybe some of what my friend said had even been true.
Since they don't answer the phone, and are nowhere to be found.
The best restaraunt in Douglasville in my opinion is Sam and Roscoes, which used to be Aldos.