Chuck & Connie’s Diner closes after short run
Monday, November 02, 2009 3:51 PM (pst)
Financial problems apparently caused the quick demise of Chuck & Connie’s Diner in Seaside, which closed at the end of October after slightly more than a month in business.
It was the first venture into the restaurant business for Chuck and Connie Nephew, who opened their eatery in mid-September at 325 S. Holladay.
Previously, the couple operated a well-received barbecue sandwich stall at the Astoria Saturday Market and had hoped to build on that success with their restaurant, which featured traditional barbecue fare.
But the Nephews seemed to have run into a problem that plagues many start-up restaurants – the lack of resources.
“They said they didn’t have the backing to get through the month,” said Pat Tanner, the owner of the building the couple were leasing. “It’s too bad because we loved them and they really had good food,” Tanner told Coast River Business Journal.
In an interview in the November issue of CRBJ, Chuck Nephew lamented the difficulties in promoting the new restaurant, despite the support the couple received from the local business community.
The Nephews, who could not be reached for comment, live in Yakima, Wash., and had been residing briefly with friends in this area with plans to relocate permanently to the North Coast.
- Greg Cohen
Editor's Note: Clatsop County business owners in need of advice/assistance have the opportunity to seek help from Clatsop Economic Development Resources. (CEDR). CEDR's objective is to be the "One Stop" resource for business support. It's services include business counseling, aid in accessing capital, work force services, and access to specialized regional support. CEDR is a private/public partnership. Many of its services are available at no charge. For more information visit the CEDR Website.