Story & Photo – Joseph Boyle
This morning on my way to work, I was just turning off Main Street into Starbucks when I spotted the ambulance transporting an elderly gentleman to the hospital.
Our favorite Moon Rise Café, located at 6020 Main Street SW inside the Lakewood Towne Center, had just experienced some bad luck and a whole lot of good luck.
Rather than have me tell the story, let me share with you what MoonRise Café customer, Clifford Benton, had to say.
“Yup. Joe, I was just ‘sittin’ inside the Moon Rise Café having a cup of coffee while I waited for my sister. I looked up at the clock and saw it was 7:50 a.m. I glanced back down to take a sip of coffee and then it happened. There was a giant, loud glass explosion. The car drove right into the restaurant within two feet of my table. Missed me!”
Clifford told me the guy sitting at the breakfast bar heard the noise and saw the car come crashing into the diner. The guy jumped off his stool and took off like a scalded dog. Missed him!
The owner, Christine Curren, and her daughter were working back in the kitchen. Missed them!
I did not get a chance to talk to the other four customers, but we can add these happy words, “Missed them!”
So the bad luck is the elderly driver appears to have suffered a medical problem causing him to drive through the Moon Rise Café.
The good news is he was carefully transported to the hospital and not one patron or staff member was injured or killed. Christine had just stalked up on all her restaurant food supplies. She immediately told me she would simply give all her food to a local food bank or shelter. What a great Lakewood citizen we have in Christine. She is willing to give to others in her time of distress.
The Moon Rise Café was not originally designed with a Drive-through, so the café will be closed until further notice.
Once Christine reopens, let’s all try to get out and support the Moon Rise Café, since Christine is one of our dedicated local business owners. The food and service are wonderful too.
I am so pleased that no one was hurt. Clifford did not even spill his coffee.
Would you guys please post something when they re-open. Perhaps we can make an effort to have as many of us as possible spend our monthly ‘dining out’ dollars there to give Christine a hand.
OMG! My fav little diner…best food, best staff, best prices, best atmosphere…just happy everyone is okay! I will keep checking daily on their progress and will be there ready to eat as soon as they are back in business – hopefully soon!
Great little place with great food and service. I’ll be looking forward to their reopening — and hope it’s soon…
Janean,
Good idea. I will endeavor to post a second grand opening story when they are ready to go, to let you know.
See you there.
Joseph Boyle
Joe…It is interesting Christine ‘Stalked’ her food. Usually it is hunters out in the woods who ‘stalk’ food, i.e. deer, etc. Did you mean she ‘stocked’ her food??
A.G. Toth. Good catch. When I was in the grocery business in the 1950s and 1960s we stocked cases of food on the shelves. In my current business I handle cases where victims are stalked, and I am not talking about deer. Is this an excuse for my language arts error? Not really. Thanks for pointing out this improvement opportunity. Joseph Boyle
Per their Facebook page, they will be re-opening on Monday!