Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Smashburgers!! Country gravy!! BREAKFAST!! Co-owners Shane Hissem and Aimee McCracken Bell give Marilyn a tour of their new diner in Connellsville, PA.
Back To The 80s Diner
103 Memorial Blvd, Connellsville, PA 15425
(724) 603-2326
Connellsville restaurant offers true diner style with 1980s flare
By MARILYN FORBES Jun 16, 2026
If you feel like liver and onions for breakfast or scrambled eggs for dinner, you can have both and much more at the newly opened Back to the 80’s Diner, which offers everything on the menu all day long.
“You can get anything you want, all day, every day,” co-owner Aimee McCracken Bell said of the eatery she co-owns with Shane and Kari Hissem. “People love to get breakfast all day.”
The newly remodeled diner opened its doors to the public on May 11, only a few short months after acquiring the property.
“It needed a lot of work, and we all did it together,” Shane Hissem said of the total interior remodeling that they accomplished in the diner. “We had friends and relatives and a lot of people pitching in to help and work on the place, and we all did it together.”
Hissem added that they wasted no time in getting the diner remodeled.
“We got the key on February 11 and the day that we got the key was the day we started remodeling.” Hissem sad.
Hissem, who owns four other diners, said that he was a tad reluctant to purchase another diner but was swayed by the encouragement of Bell, who worked at the diner for years when it was Hometown Diner and knew the potential of the property.
“She said that there was an opportunity to open this place,” Hissem said, adding that his initial reluctance was soon gone. “We talked about it, and then said, ‘Let’s do it.’”
Bell said that she worked in the former diner for years and knew that they would be able to appeal to the same clientele that frequented the old eatery.
“This is my stomping ground ,and I am so glad that we decided to just do it,” Bell said.
The quaint diner seats around 80 and serves up everything from house-made corned beef that is used for Reubens to Hissem’s secret sausage gravy recipe.
The numerous breakfast options and the variety of “smash” burgers are among the most popular items on the menu.
“We go through about 15 cases of burger every week,” Hissem said, noting the fresh burger is purchased from a local butcher. “It’s fresh, never frozen, and the burgers are smashed and cooked to order.”
An array of different sandwiches is also offered, as well as dinner selections that include meatloaf, steak, ham and more, and also dinners listed under “Comfort Corner” which include chicken and biscuits, chicken Parmesan, and spaghetti and meatballs.
Homemade soups and salads are offered, as well as the popular cheesy hash brown casserole that is a customer favorite.
“People love the cheesy hash browns,” Bell said, adding that they used a former recipe and added some extra ingredients. “They are a big seller.”
Apple dumplings and pie are also on the menu, and all kids’ meals are served in vintage-style divided plates.
“The kids’ meals all come on the plates with dividers, and the kids love them,” Hissem said.
The vintage-style children’s plates are not the only nod to the 1980s, as the décor in the diner brings the diners back to the days of Pac-Man, vintage games, music and more.
“It’s nice here,” Josie Pritchard said. “We used to come here years ago when it was the old diner, and it was different, but still good. We love the service and the food here.”
And Pritchard is not the only one who loves the service, as Bell said many of their present customers are the same people who enjoyed the former Hometown Diner.
“I would say around 50 percent of the customers now are ones from the Hometown Diner,” Bell said, adding that several servers who work at the diner were former servers at Hometown Diner. “People will follow a server if they really like them.”
Business has been great, as the new owners have finally started to settle into a routine for the eatery.
“The first Friday we were open, we were until 3 o’clock in the morning doing prep work for the weekend,” Bell said, adding that the first few days were hectic. “We had people lined up out the door to Nickman’s. We had to tell some of them that it was an hour wait, but they waited.”
Keeping prices reasonable while they continue to serve up good homemade food is the perfect recipe for a successful diner.
“We have high-quality food and a great staff,” Hissem said. “Our prices are great, and our feedback so far has been five stars. It’s been just great so far, and we look forward to seeing more people from the community come check us out.”
The Back to the 80’s diner is located at 103 Memorial Blvd., Connellsville.
Smashburgers!! Country gravy!! BREAKFAST!! Co-owners Shane Hissem and Aimee McCracken Bell give Marilyn a tour of their new diner in Connellsville, PA.
Back To The 80s Diner
103 Memorial Blvd, Connellsville, PA 15425
(724) 603-2326
Connellsville restaurant offers true diner style with 1980s flare
By MARILYN FORBES Jun 16, 2026
If you feel like liver and onions for breakfast or scrambled eggs for dinner, you can have both and much more at the newly opened Back to the 80’s Diner, which offers everything on the menu all day long.
“You can get anything you want, all day, every day,” co-owner Aimee McCracken Bell said of the eatery she co-owns with Shane and Kari Hissem. “People love to get breakfast all day.”
The newly remodeled diner opened its doors to the public on May 11, only a few short months after acquiring the property.
“It needed a lot of work, and we all did it together,” Shane Hissem said of the total interior remodeling that they accomplished in the diner. “We had friends and relatives and a lot of people pitching in to help and work on the place, and we all did it together.”
Hissem added that they wasted no time in getting the diner remodeled.
“We got the key on February 11 and the day that we got the key was the day we started remodeling.” Hissem sad.
Hissem, who owns four other diners, said that he was a tad reluctant to purchase another diner but was swayed by the encouragement of Bell, who worked at the diner for years when it was Hometown Diner and knew the potential of the property.
“She said that there was an opportunity to open this place,” Hissem said, adding that his initial reluctance was soon gone. “We talked about it, and then said, ‘Let’s do it.’”
Bell said that she worked in the former diner for years and knew that they would be able to appeal to the same clientele that frequented the old eatery.
“This is my stomping ground ,and I am so glad that we decided to just do it,” Bell said.
The quaint diner seats around 80 and serves up everything from house-made corned beef that is used for Reubens to Hissem’s secret sausage gravy recipe.
The numerous breakfast options and the variety of “smash” burgers are among the most popular items on the menu.
“We go through about 15 cases of burger every week,” Hissem said, noting the fresh burger is purchased from a local butcher. “It’s fresh, never frozen, and the burgers are smashed and cooked to order.”
An array of different sandwiches is also offered, as well as dinner selections that include meatloaf, steak, ham and more, and also dinners listed under “Comfort Corner” which include chicken and biscuits, chicken Parmesan, and spaghetti and meatballs.
Homemade soups and salads are offered, as well as the popular cheesy hash brown casserole that is a customer favorite.
“People love the cheesy hash browns,” Bell said, adding that they used a former recipe and added some extra ingredients. “They are a big seller.”
Apple dumplings and pie are also on the menu, and all kids’ meals are served in vintage-style divided plates.
“The kids’ meals all come on the plates with dividers, and the kids love them,” Hissem said.
The vintage-style children’s plates are not the only nod to the 1980s, as the décor in the diner brings the diners back to the days of Pac-Man, vintage games, music and more.
“It’s nice here,” Josie Pritchard said. “We used to come here years ago when it was the old diner, and it was different, but still good. We love the service and the food here.”
And Pritchard is not the only one who loves the service, as Bell said many of their present customers are the same people who enjoyed the former Hometown Diner.
“I would say around 50 percent of the customers now are ones from the Hometown Diner,” Bell said, adding that several servers who work at the diner were former servers at Hometown Diner. “People will follow a server if they really like them.”
Business has been great, as the new owners have finally started to settle into a routine for the eatery.
“The first Friday we were open, we were until 3 o’clock in the morning doing prep work for the weekend,” Bell said, adding that the first few days were hectic. “We had people lined up out the door to Nickman’s. We had to tell some of them that it was an hour wait, but they waited.”
Keeping prices reasonable while they continue to serve up good homemade food is the perfect recipe for a successful diner.
“We have high-quality food and a great staff,” Hissem said. “Our prices are great, and our feedback so far has been five stars. It’s been just great so far, and we look forward to seeing more people from the community come check us out.”
The Back to the 80’s diner is located at 103 Memorial Blvd., Connellsville.
