LEOMINSTER — The delicious smell of breakfast cooking and excitement filled the air at Tim’s Diner on Wednesday morning, where a large crowd gathered to celebrate a very special occasion.
It’s been one year this month since Stephanie Milano took over as the owner of the business located in the heart of downtown that was established by Tim Kamataris Jr. in 1953. Carrying on that rich history and continuing to provide a quality experience for customers is what drives the female entrepreneur, who was glowing with happiness and pride at the April 8 ribbon cutting that marked the milestone.
“Thank you all for showing up today and being a part of the journey,” Milano said to the friends, family, city officials, police officers and community residents who came out for the affair.
Mayor Dean Mazzarella presented her and her fiancé Kenny Delgado, who owns the property with her, with a citation congratulating them while praising the couple for keeping the community staple going.
“You held onto some of the history,” the mayor said to them.
Before Milano cut the blue ribbon amongst cheers and applause, she held their 4-year-old son Nico in her arms, who was there along with many of their family members to honor her endeavor.
“My son is here almost as much as I am,” she said while sitting at one of the tables in the back once some of the hoopla died down.
Milano said the food and beverage industry “is my background,” and that she has worked in just about every role imaginable over the years, including being a server and bartending. It’s been a dream of hers for a long time to own her own place and now that dream has finally come to fruition.
“I always wanted something small,” she said, adding that when “the opportunity arose” to take the helm at Tim’s Diner when Kamataris Jr. was looking to retire, she jumped at the chance.
She and Delgado have both been customers of the popular 14 Water St. breakfast spot for a long time. They now live in Lancaster but they both grew up in Leominster and attended Leominster High School.
“Kenny always told Timmy I’m gonna buy this one day,” Milano disclosed of her fiancé who owns and operates a transport and hauling business.
In one of those amazing twist of fate kismet kind of things, the diner car itself is a 1949 Silk City Diner built by the Paterson Vehicle Co. of Paterson, New Jersey — where Delgado was born.
When asked how she manages to juggle motherhood and being a business owner, Milano said it really boils down to her “wonderful support system,” which includes her tight-knit family and the staff members who help Tim’s Diner run smoothly.
“Most days we want to kill each other,” she quipped about the crew that includes chefs Kim, Mario and Petey and servers Amy, Keri, Isabella and Isobel, the dedicated team she recruited when she took over the diner in April 2025.
She said Delgado’s four adult children are also an instrumental part of their success, often jumping in to help when needed and that she loves being a grandmother to their kids.
“They are important to me,” Milano said.
She shared that Kamataris Jr. started working at the diner originally owned by Roy Hemenway when he was just 12 years old and then christened it Tim’s Diner when he took it over.
“It’s pretty cool to see the photos and history,” Milano said about the pictures and mementos hanging in the diner that tell the story of its lineage. “It’s really important that Tim’s legacy continues and that people know about the history.”
She went on to say that Kamataris Jr. operated the diner mostly by himself with help from his beloved wife Carol, who was there with him every step of the way.
“She loved it here,” Milano said of Carol, who is now enjoying retirement along with her husband.
Kamataris Jr. stayed for a few weeks during the transition when Milano took over as owner and then “he took a step back,” she said.
Milano feels “grateful and honored” to carry on the business that is approaching eight decades in existence — and said she can’t even begin to imagine “the number of eggs that have been cracked here.”
At the heart of it all is their customers, both the loyal ones who have been ordering their breakfast favorites at the diner for a long time and the new ones who are just discovering it. Milano said in this modern age when people have the option to grab a quick breakfast at a fast-food place or convenience store, she appreciates those who choose to eat at the diner and in turn support them.
“I don’t want Tim’s Diner to get lost in the new age,” she imparted. “I want to introduce the next generation to us and for them to know about us.”
By 5:30 a.m. on any given day the counter stools are filled with customers enjoying a freshly cooked meal hot off the griddle.
“You know everyone sitting at the counter by name and their order,” Milano said of their fan base. “You don’t have to ask if they want coffee, you just know. It’s good to get to know your regulars.”
She mentioned one customer in particular, a young man named Brandon who works at Market Basket and comes in for breakfast most mornings before heading off to high school.
“We can get him in and out,” Milano said of the fast-paced atmosphere that enables them to serve their customers in a timely fashion without skimping on quality. “Brandon is of high value to me because he’s our future and helps spread the word.”
She said it is important to her to not forget “the legacy of this place” — and how Kamataris Jr. helped paved that road — while also looking to the future.
“We are building our own identity.”
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