Anchor Business: Olde Village Diner

For the past 37 years, the small building at 46 E. Columbus St. has been an anchor business in the Olde Village District.

“A vibrant city embraces businesses successful enough to maintain visibility and business success for a long time,” Development Services Director Joe Henderson explained.

For the first 29 of those years, the building in question was known as M’Lee’s Diner, owned and operated by Mary Smith. She opened it in 1975 because, she said, “There was no place to eat in the area.”

Now it is the Olde Village Diner, and the current owner, working on his eighth year, is Angelo Agganis, 72. He previously owned two doughnut shops in Lancaster for years, before selling the properties and retiring in 1995.

“My problem was that I couldn’t just sit around in retirement,” Agganis explained.

An incident with his wife, Genny, spurred him to action.

“One day I was doing nothing,” he said. “She told me to cut the grass. I said, ‘I cut it yesterday.’ She said, ‘Cut it again.’”

Born in Sparta, Greece, Agganis, one of nine children, immigrated to Montreal, Canada in 1959, then to America 10 years later.

So, thoroughly bored in retirement, he ate breakfast one morning at M’Lee’s and asked Mary Smith if she’d sell the restaurant to him.

The deal basically was transacted that afternoon.

Under Agganis, the diner serves a varied menu with some Greek food, with cabbage rolls and eight soups, prepared daily by Genny Agganis, among its daily fare. It features a Special, different every day and visible on a sandwich board in front of the restaurant.

Opposite the front door on the kitchen wall is a large picture of Harry Agganis, Boston Red Sox first baseman in the early 1950s.

“He was my father’s first cousin, known as the ‘Golden Greek.’ Tragically, he died of a pulmonary embolism during the 1955 season. He was only 25,” Agganis said.

The dining area holds 62 people at differentsized tables, booths and a small counter. Breakfast is particularly popular, especially on weekends.

“We have a great location and very loyal customers. A high percentage of those are senior citizens,” Agganis said.

What are his future plans?

“My health is good. I love the business. I cer-