Altha Diner closed after fire ignites in kitchen

“This community is my family, and I’ll be back as fast as I can”, Altha Diner owner Jeff Clark said Monday.

Clark and his staff, along with Altha and Calhoun County citizens who love their breakfasts and lunches at the “Diner” were in shock Friday morning after hearing the Diner had burned. Many locals saw the building on fire and did whatever they could to help until the fire truck arrived.

“We were off for Thanksgiving and had come in to do some serious cleaning ahead of installing a new stove vent. We think it was some kind of chemical fire, but we’ll wait for the Fire Marshal to determine that” Clark noted.

Clark had retired after 41 years of working for St. Joe Paper Company when he bought the Altha Diner sixteen years ago. He has twelve employees, some just part time, and his manager Dianne Mongiello who has been with Clark for 11 years. When asked about repairing or rebuilding, Clark said for now plans are to get bids on repairing and rebuilding and wait for the Fire Marshal’s Office to complete their investigation.

The front and side of the building suffered smoke damage, but the kitchen was a total loss.

“Our customers are our friends and their moral support has meant a lot to me”, Clark noted. “I appreciated Fire Chief Scott Waldorff, Josh and Connie Peters, the Altha and Magnolia Fire Departments, our Police Chief and Sheriffand so many others for their efforts during and after the fire. The community’s support has been heart warming”, Clark stated.