When you walk into Dick’s Drive-In and Dairy Dip, you’re transported back to the 1950s, with its classic music, homemade milkshakes and mint barstools — minus the roller skates.

The eatery at 1485 Merivale Rd. has been a mainstay on the strip for 13 years, with regulars who call it their favourite family restaurant because, they say, it’s food as good as mom would make.

Distroscale

“It’s always high quality food,” said longtime customer Mike Branchaud, sitting at a booth with a friend, as Elvis’ Jailhouse Rock played in the background. “When you order a cheeseburger, they cut a slice of cheese off a brick of cheese. If you want some bacon, it’s not paper thin — it’s a nice piece of bacon. The food is extremely flavourful and it’s just like going back home and having your mom make you something.”

The owners, Kelly and John Nguyen, who are now 50 and 57 years old respectively, took over the business 13 years ago from a previous owner who had opened and sold the building after four months.

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The Nguyens have worked tirelessly since then to keep the joint afloat, serving everything from malts, chili dogs and their signature club sandwiches to fresh beef, turkey and chicken burgers — along with unique meat options like ostrich, bison, venison and kangaroo.

But that work has taken a toll, and they’ve decided it’s time to hang up their aprons to enjoy “the easy life.” Now that their two children have grown, they plan to travel, work casual jobs and take care of their aging parents.

Photo by Tony Caldwell

As Kelly sat at the circular counter on Tuesday, she started to tear up. The change, she said, is bittersweet.

“I spend all my life in here, from open until close, seven days,” she said, looking down. “Whatever day that you open, you have to be here. I’m very happy to sell … I don’t have time to enjoy my life. I’ve put in 13 years, my kids are grown up a bit now and we will step back from a busy life … but I will really miss the customers, and we’ve had some staff as long as 11 years. You don’t see many restaurants like this anymore. They are mostly franchises.”

Kelly said Dick’s last day will be Sept. 12. The new owner plans to open a Korean restaurant.

“Oh no, sad face, really sad face, I like the nostalgia,” said regular customer Heather Bruce, when she heard the news about the closing. “And the food is delicious, so a great combo, good all-around service and good atmosphere.”

When she paid for her meal at the counter, she told Kelly to expect an increase in customer traffic before they close.

“I’ll have to come back with my son. It’s been great, I think you’ll see a bit of a rush.”

Kelly said the couple will switch from being employers to employees. John plans to work as a school bus driver and she will return to her previous vocation as a hair dresser. It will amount to fewer work hours, and more importantly, less responsibility.

“Some of our customers have said, ‘Oh, we will miss you’. But on the other side, they know how hard we work in here. They say, ‘It’s sad but good for you.'”