John Kokoris, franchiser of Angel’s Diner stands beside the restaurant’s jukebox, which is part of what give’s the diner it’s 50’s style. The venue in town is the seventh location for him and his partner, Peter Kakridas. Photo by Mandi Hargrave The 1950s have long since come and gone, but a new restaurant in Orangeville is trying to keep the feeling alive.

Located in a former Burger King outlet, Angel’s Diner is the brain child of former Montrealer John Kokoris.

Although all the outlets have the same ’50s theme, with neon lights, plush booths and jukeboxes, Mr. Kokoris says Orangeville’s is the first in a former fast-food outlet.

He says he was travelling in the United States when he came across a diner he connected with, and from there came up with the concept. While living in Montreal he heard there might be a demand for such eateries in Southern Ontario.

In 1996, he launched the first Angel’s Diner in Guelph. The newest is the seventh for him and partner Peter Kakridas. The others are in Brantford (1998), Kitchener (1999), Oakville (2001), Fergus (2004) and Waterdown (2005).

He said the first was the most difficult to open, not because of any major problems but because he didn’t know what the results would be.

“The beginning is always hard, until you establish yourself there’s always a risk and a question mark on everything.”

The other locations came easier.

“It takes time and effort for each one, but you have to be at the right location so people can get to know you faster,” he said, adding: “After the first, people get to know you sooner and easier because they’ve heard about you.”

He said he has always wanted to open a location in Orangeville and had been looking at the area for a couple of years.

“I thought the town needed a family restaurant like ours; the concept goes with a town like this.”

He said the town needed a family restaurant that features breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Another factor was recent population growth. “We see Orangeville is booming; it’s growing.”

Last July he found the location, which had stood empty for several months, and spent a lot of money on renovations for the inside and outside of the building.

“I thought it was a nice location at the right spot, [and] it’s a nice area on the main drag.”

The venue opened at the end of January and customers have been pouring in.

“We’ve had a very good response, people love it,” he said.

He lists good food, huge portions, the overall atmosphere and prices as the reasons for the diners’ success.

Monday to Friday, the breakfast special is $3.49 and kids 10 and under eat free Monday to Thursday. A special seniors’ menu offers meals at $5.95 after 11 a.m. and another special allows you to buy one smoked meat sandwich and have the second for five cents.

Mr. Kokoris has no plans of slowing down. He says he’s working on plans for an eighth venue, but hasn’t quite settled on the location.