Elmira diner marking milestone with 60-cent pancakes, coffee. How to celebrate at Anne's.

Anne’s Pancakes, the storied diner in the heart of Elmira, will host its 60th anniversary celebration on Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9.

Co-owners Yolanda and Jared Fish see the celebration as a way of repaying the community that has kept them in business so long.

“It’s about giving back to the community, and thanking them for the support over the years,” Jared Fish said.

As part of the celebration, they’re offering 60-cent pancakes and cups of coffee, and there will be giveaways with t-shirts and other souvenirs.

“It will be a good time, and hopefully will be good for the community,” Fish said.

The full-service diner has been around since 1964, when Anne Burbage took over what used to be called the Franklin Inn. She ran the restaurant, Fish said, while raising eight children.

At one point, Fish recalled, during the Flood of 1972, the restaurant was inundated under 12 feet of water. Rather than break down and give up, Anne opened a hot-dog cart out front to keep the restaurant going until it could reopen.

Anne's Pancakes remains a family business through ownership changes

That determination kept the restaurant alive under her ownership for nearly 40 years until, in 2002, Yolanda’s uncle, Mike Klein, bought the restaurant from Anne. Then, in 2020, Yolanda and Jared purchased it from him.

“My wife always dreamt about taking over from her uncle, and it means a lot to her that we kept the restaurant in the family,” Jared Fish said.

That wasn’t the easiest time to buy a business.

“We bought it in October in the midst of COVID, so that was one of our toughest times,” Fish said.

Due to restrictions, the restaurant was only able to operate at half capacity, which was crippling for an already-small dining room. The cost of produce also soared, which continues to be a problem across the industry.

If it wasn’t for its loyal customers, Anne’s Pancakes may not have survived.

“We had so much support from the community during that time, it kept us afloat until we were able to recover from the pandemic,” Fish recalled.

Community support keeps Anne's Pancakes going strong

Gerry Mletzko and his wife, Carmel-Ann, said they made a point of going during the pandemic to support the diner they’ve loved for decades.

“During the pandemic we went because we wanted to support them, so every week we would sit out in front of the restaurant, order, and they would bring our food out to the car,” Mletzko said.

“We wanted to make sure they stayed in business no matter what,” he said.

Since then, Fish said it’s been smooth sailing.

“We’ve had the same staff for two years now, and I know it’s cliche but it really feels like we’re one big family here,” he said.

The customers feel like family, too.

“I always felt at home there,” said Pine City resident Cheryl Miller.

She’s been going to Anne’s Pancakes since she was a kid, and her grandmother worked there in its early days.

“They have good food, and you just feel like you belong there when you walk in.”

More: Two years after Second Place East closed, Elmira has a new temporary homeless shelter

Elmira City mayor Daniel Mandell agrees.

“I’ve eaten there many times, and the food is excellent,” he said. “Kudos to them for 60 years of business, and hopefully many more years of successful business to come.”

Anne’s Pancakes is located at 114 S Main St. It’s open Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Saturday from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Anne's Pancakes in Elmira marking 60 years with 60-cent menu items