After several months of working day and night, the Front Door Diner and the Back Door bar are both open for business at the historic Howard Johnson’s building across from the Strand Theatre in Old Forge.

Tom Greco and Albert Kiss, both of Old Forge, are operators of the dual business with Greco focusing on the diner and Kiss the bar.

“We want this to be a fun place to hang out and grab some unique food,” Greco said.

The diner boasts a traditional-yet-modern breakfast menu, according to Greco.

“Our patrons seem to be enjoying the different spin we’ve given it,” he said.

Greco has been in the restaurant business most of his life. His family had a pizzeria on Main Street in Old Forge for almost thirteen years. He worked there most summers and just about grew up in the kitchen.

He also ran Greco’s Diner in Raquette Lake for four summers before moving to Scotia, where he was kitchen manager of Delmonico’s Restaurant.

“It was a great experience. I learned all about new and different foods, and how to be more organized and successful in the kitchen. It inspired me to come back and open a restaurant in my hometown,” he said.

Albert Kiss also spent most of his life in the restaurant business. He grew up in Raquette Lake and worked at a number of restaurants. He started at an early age at Mic’s Burke Town.

For nine years combined, Kiss managed both the Raquette Lake Tony Harper’s Pizza and Clam Shack and joined the newer establishment in Old Forge when it opened a few years ago.

Additionally he studied restaurant management and hotel operation at Morrisville.

Prior to its recent opening, the location had been closed for almost four years. Greco and Kiss said they knew the building would need work, but the were excited by the potential.

“It was on its way to becoming a beautiful building, and the location made it a good opportunity for success,” he said.

The pair decided to restore the name “Back Door,” which it had operated as for many years in an earlier life.

“People know this place as the Back Door, everyone is going to be calling it that anyway, so we decided to just keep it that.” Kiss said.

In keeping with the theme, they chose the name Front Door Diner.

Demolition and restoration of the building’s interior was started last June after some roof work.

Friends and family came in from all over to help with the work, according to Kiss.

“Built by locals, for locals,” he said. “My family spent hours on end working together to get us open. I’m very thankful for their hard work and time they put into it.”

A number of people came to check the progress and ended up helping out.

They stayed for hours doing anything that needed to be done, according to Greco.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today if it weren’t for the big-hearted people in this town,” he said. “The list is endless, but special thanks go to my dad, Guy Greco, Brian Schoen, Ben Cohen, and Patrick Devlin, who never left my side.”

There are many features in the building that remain from the original Howard Johnsons, built back in the ’60s.

Bob Card, the building’s owner, evoked the original Howard Johnson’s with a similar color scheme. All the stone and brick walls and beams are original, and some of the tables and chairs. There is a phone booth that has also been there since the ’60s, a big hit with the customers, Kiss said.

This fall they plan to restore the diner floor.

“The place is still a work in progress, but has come a very long way. We are very lucky to be given this opportunity by Bob and Helen [Zyma] to run the business—we couldn’t thank him enough,” Greco said.

The new Front Door Diner opened its doors on July 21.

“It’s been a busy summer. The locals say they’re happy this place is open again. We’ve gotten lots of compliments on the food and service and how great things look,” Greco said.

The Back Door was opened for business on August 9.

“The nights have been strong from the start, and the day business continues to grow,” Kiss said.

The Back Door Bar has announced a public Grand Opening Party for Thursday, September 12, to celebrate the opening of both businesses, according to Kiss. Free munchies will be available, along with live music by Midnight Mike, he said.