Popular diner on Ottawa’s Wellington Street West set to close

John's Diner on Wellington Street West is set to close on Friday. (Peter Szperling/CTV News Ottawa)

John’s Diner is set to serve its final meal, after more than 50 years of feeding customers in Ottawa.

The Hatoum Family will close John’s Diner on Wellington Street West on Friday.

“I feel sad because I’m leaving,” John Hatoum said. “Lots of good people coming in through the door, and I thank them for supporting us.”

Hatoum opened John’s Diner in 1974. He retired in 2011, but the restaurant continued to be operated by his children.

The restaurant has been a popular spot for the community, including politicians and political staff.

“We’ve met all our marks,” Tony Hatoum said Wednesday morning. “We’re happy with what we’ve achieved; our family’s all well, and we want to sail off a little bit and unwind and be able to enjoy each other and a bit of time.”

Peter Hatoum says it was “our time to close.”

“It’s a very demanding business, and we just felt it was the right time. Right time to step away – on a high note,” Peter Hatoum told CTV News Ottawa.

“I’m going to miss the social part of it, because it’s been a day to day in our lives.”

Tony and Peter have been working at the business for 33 years.

“We’re going out on a high note, “Tony said. “My family’s all well. Everything is great, business is superb - so what better time than to say this is our time.”

Mary Hatoum says it’s a “very emotional” time for the family.

“My brothers have young families. They want to enjoy more time with them. The restaurant business is not easy and it’s the best thing for them right now.”

Dan van Morik has been a customer for more than 40 years.

“We really, really found a home here,” he said.

Sandra van Morik added, “They’re really going to be missed very much.”

John’s Diner has been operating Monday to Friday. The final meals will be served on Friday.

“The biggest thing we want to do is say thank you to Ottawa,” Tony Hatoum said.

“We really feel that there’s going to be a big part of us that is lost somehow. But we were very happy to be a part of it and we have lots of very special relationships with lots of this community. They all feel practically like extended family.”