A classic eating establishment known for its Pennsylvania Dutch cooking is under new ownership.

The Bowmanstown Diner, at 642 White St., has been purchased by Palmerton native Kody Gildner.

Gildner bought the diner on April 4 from co-owners Rich Wenner and Michael Aniskevich.

A 1995 graduate of Palmerton Area High School, Gildner said he wanted to ensure the diner remains the local icon it’s always been.

“I grew up going there,” Gildner said. “I love the place, and really didn’t want it to go into the wrong hands.”

Gildner said the diner’s legacy is really about the people and those patrons who have been coming there from the time they were little.

“The people that are there are absolutely amazing,” he said. “The food is phenomenal, the service is phenomenal.”

Gildner said he began having discussions with the owners about two years ago.

On April 4, Gildner’s dream to buy the diner became a reality.

“The biggest message is that nothing’s going to change,” he said. “We want to make sure the continuity is going to remain.”

Upon graduating from Palmerton, he earned a degree in civil engineering from Widener University.

Gildner is currently founder, president and CEO of KLG Building Group in Franklin, Tennessee, which specializes in building state-of-the-art health care facilities.

He currently lives in Nashville with his wife, Jennifer, and their four children, Parker, 14, Hudson, 10, Camden, 9, and Mason, 7.

But that doesn’t stop Gildner from making the long trek back to his old stomping grounds.

“I love coming back for the (Palmerton Community) Festival,” he said. “Just to stay in touch with my roots.”

Family-owned, operated

Both Wenner and Aniskevich said the decision to sell the diner was bittersweet.

Wenner, owner/president, has been at the diner for 34 years, while Aniskevich, co-owner/cook, has been there for 45 years.

Wenner said that he and Aniskevich started leasing in late 1991 and then purchased the business in 1996 from his father, James Wenner, and his wife, Irene Wenner.

Before that, Wenner said that Irene’s father, Herman Steigerwalt, owned the diner. The diner has been family-owned since around 1960.

Wenner was a sheet metal mechanic before owning the diner. His aunt owned a restaurant that he worked at when he was a teenager.

“It was an opportunity to gain a pretty lucrative business,” Wenner said. “Me and Mike (Aniskevich) became partners.”

Now 72, Wenner said the time has come to sit back and reap the rewards of his hard work.

“My wife, Debbie, wants me to be home,” he said. “As wonderful as this has been, my wife has sacrificed quite a bit; I’ve worked 85% of the weekends over the last 34 years.”

Still, Wenner, who resides in Schnecksville, said that doesn’t make his decision any easier.

“The day-to-day experience has been terrific,” he said. “And getting to know the people.”

Married to his wife Debbie for 42 years, together the couple have two grown children who live in Philadelphia.

“It will be nice doing all the things I’ve missed out on,” Wenner said. “I’m looking forward to traveling, golfing, straighten out the garage; I have a to-do list.”

Aniskevich, who resides in Lehighton, has been employed by the diner for the past 45 years and said he started out as a night shift cook.

He said he plans to stay on for about another year to help with the transition to new ownership.

Food and staff

Wenner touted the diner’s reasonable prices as another key to its success.

“We’re not in a big center city,” he said. “It’s about the food quality, our consistency and homemade touch.”

Wenner didn’t hesitate when naming the diner’s hot roast beef sandwiches, homemade french fries and crab patties as being its top sellers.

Aniskevich also cited the diner’s homemade food, and noted it feature specials.

“It’s a family-oriented business,” Aniskevich said. “Everybody’s friendly here.”

Wenner was also quick to heap praise on the diner’s employees, who he said are essential to its longevity.

“We had a great core group of employees who literally have been there for us,” Wenner said. “The same goes for our customers; we have a very loyal clientele of repeat customers.”

Wenner said longtime waitresses Brooke Roberts (23 years) and Danielle Zastko (22 years) began working for them while they were still in high school.

“They will (help) run it with Kody,” he said. “That progression has been cool to see.”

Wenner said another of his proudest accomplishments is that the business has been able to keep between 31 to 33 workers employed during his 34 years.

“I think that’s something to be proud of,” said Wenner, who noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, they put a tent outside the facility to continue to serve customers. “And business is better than ever.”

Much like his business partner, Aniskevich lauded the diner’s customers and employees for its staying power.

“We wouldn’t have this if not for our loyal customers,” he said. “We have really good customer service and good employees.”

Wenner said he’s confident the business will continue to flourish.

“It’s in good hands,” he said. “There’s a learning curve, but Mike is staying on for a period of time.”

Aniskevich agreed with Wenner’s assessment.

“It’s been very profitable,” he said. “It’s time to step away and let somebody else take over.”