From pancake house to diner

Ownership changes hands, but stays in the family SUSSEX - Passersby on Route 23 in Sussex Borough may have noticed that the Country Pancake House has been replaced by Vicki’s Diner. And while the move represents just a partial change in ownership, the cosmetic facelift on the outside of the eatery has been complemented by a few changes on the inside. George Dimitriou had owned and operated the Country Pancake House with his brother Jimmy for the past five years. In September, Jimmy pulled his stake in the partnership and George’s wife, Vicki stepped in. The husband and wife duo decided to change the name of the establishment to reflect that they serve more than just breakfast meals. Plus, since some customers had already referred to the restaurant as “Vicki’s Place,” she said, “we decided to change the name.” In addition to changing the outside façade, Vicki and George have also expanded the menu for both breakfast and lunch. The diner now offers an assortment of pancakes, including blueberry, banana, strawberry, cherry, chocolate chip, walnut, peanut butter and buckwheat. All of the fruits used are fresh except for canned cherries, said Vicki. The lunch menu includes specials each day, homemade soups and an Athenian wrap — grilled chicken with feta cheese. From the road, the diner looks deceptively small. But there’s actually an adjoining dining room in the rear and the eatery seats a total of 60 people, said Vicki. The restaurant’s interior was upgraded four years ago. In true diner style, the restaurant opens early: Vicki’s is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week.