To last 70 years, any business must attract repeat customers. For Richies Family Restaurant in London, that has never been an issue. “Obviously, they have good service, or they wouldn’t still be here,” said one long-time customer who attended a 70th anniversary celebration on Monday. Richie’s has been an anchor business in a strip mall at Fanshawe Park Road and Richmond Street since the early 1980s. Before that, the original owner took over a diner inside a gas station at the then, rural corner. Over the decades, the seemingly obvious reason for the restaurant name was forgotten, explained Maria Podonis. She has worked at Richies for 18 years. “For the longest time, people are like, ‘Why is it called Richies?’ And we couldn’t figure it out, but then it’s like, oh, because it’s on Richmond Strip. So, that is why it’s called Richies.” Over 70 years, four owners have operated Richies, most recently the Patel family. Podonis said the new owners respect the key to its success. “We just kind of told them, it’s not broken, don’t fix it. We have the same cooks, the same servers.” But since its founding, Fanshawe and Richmond has changed a lot. Chain restaurants of all types surround Richies. The restaurant survives thanks to aging customers, and a growing number of younger ones, like Alex Meikleham, who find value in home-cooked food. “This is where you can get not just like your chain restaurant thing, but the real quality food that people put their heart and soul into,” she explained. But good food only goes so far, regulars told CTV News. For them, the classic dinner appeal, and long-serving staff make Richies. “That’s the difference, yes. It is the people who are here that are here and working,” said Bob Preszcator, who eats breakfast at Richies at least three times a week. Even politicians are known to be regulars. “These locations, these places are where people will have memories. They’re where they share experiences,” said Mayor Josh Morgan, who popped in for the anniversary. He was joined by area Coun. Corrine Rahman, who added that community support makes a difference, “I will say you know, they do school lunch programs. They have great specials for seniors. It’s just a place that you feel like you’re embraced and welcomed.” And that, perhaps, is what Richies has over the chain restaurants, according to another regular, Gary Roberts. “I think we’ve lost, not only just the food aspect of it, but I think we’ve lost a fellowship that you can have with other people as well,” he said, adding local ownership is key to understanding the needs of restaurant goers.
