Blackfoot Diner celebrates 70 years as a Calgary institution

A Calgary institution marked a milestone this weekend saying the secret to its success is treating customers like family. Tommy Osborne reports.

Lois Dougan worked her first shift at the Blackfoot Diner in 1981. Sunday, she visited as the Calgary civic treasure celebrated its 70th anniversary.

There aren’t many restaurants anywhere that last seven decades, with servers who have been around for the best part of five decades.

What’s the secret?

“When you work here, it’s like family,” Dougan said. “It’s like your home. You come every day, the customers are like family, everybody’s so kind and nice, and everybody’s very welcoming.”

As far as how the beloved diner has evolved over the years, Dougan says not too much.

“I’s basically the same,” she said. “We got a lot of the same customers, some of them have passed on, but the ones we have still come to this day for the good food, homemade food from scratch.

“We still have the hamburger steaks, homemade,” she said. “The burgers, and also veal cutlets, which is a popular one in the clubhouse, made with real jerky.”

Blackfoot general manager Alex Abernethy’s first job as a 13-year-old was at the Blackfoot Diner and he liked the place so much, he came back to work there.

“This was my first job when I was a kid,” he said. “(I) worked for the original owner, Edward Taylor, and then I left for a few years, (then) came back to help the family again, and then new ownership took over, and made me the GM, and now I get to be at the wheel, and what a trip it’s been.”

Abernethy said the continuity of the Blackfoot is what endears it to the entire city.

“The generational aspect of this place is probably the biggest key that holds onto this place in everybody’s hearts,” he said. “You’re going to bring your kids here, and then your kids are going to bring their kids here, and then their kids are going to bring their kids here, and that’s just how it’s always went.”

While there are generations of Calgary families who have eaten at the Blackfoot since it first opened its doors in 1956, word about the legendary restaurant has travelled.

Among the Sunday visitors was Sara Mohyuddin who came all the way from London, England to try it.

“The food is amazing. These pancakes, I’ve been to a few other places, but the pancakes here are to die for. Honestly, nothing compares, not even England pancakes. I’ve been to so many shops, and here is the best.

“The customer service is great. The jukebox is so cool. I’ve been standing here for a while now, just playing the songs I love, and it’s such an amazing feeling, you know.

“Everyone here, like, knows each other by name as well, which is such a nice thing to see, like community spirit kind of thing. I just love it.”

Mohyuddin said she will be back.

“I’m going to come back here with my kids, so I want to carry on. I want to make sure this diner stays open, so you know the legacy continues.”

For more about the Blackfoot Diner, go here.

With files from CTV News Calgary’s Tommy Osborne