Customers bid a sad farewell as Ferndale's Double Ee Restaurant closes

Allie Gross | Detroit Free Press

DeeDee Lulgjuraj was trying her best to smile as she took orders and poured coffee at the Double Ee Restaurant in Ferndale.

For the last nearly 13 years, Lulgjuraj, 50, has worked as a waitress at the cozy, no-frills diner. But Sunday — Father's Day — was her last day.

The restaurant, a neighborhood staple for decades, was shutting its doors for good at the end of the day. Owner Valter Xhomaqi blamed an issue with the landlord.

"It's like a loss. Like I'm losing my family," said Lulgjuraj, who on a whim walked in to see if the restaurant had any job openings in 2005 and left that afternoon with not only a job but a community. "Saying bye to the customers is breaking my heart."

About two weeks ago, according to Xhomaqi, the building's landlord informed him that his lease would not be renewed. The owner — the son of the original owner, Earl Owens of Telway Burger fame — wanted a different tenant in the property, he said. The restaurant, the one he spent $150,000 buying in 2002, would have to close.

"I feel bad for the customers. I feel bad for the employees. I feel bad. My wife stopped by this morning and cried," said Xhomaqi.

Originally born in Albania, Xhomaqi emigrated to the U.S. in 1996 to pursue the "American Dream." The 50-year-old had been a history teacher back in Albania. His wife, Elda, had been a doctor. When they came to the states they, like many immigrants, went to work, saving money to build a future.

Xhomaqi had been a dishwasher for many years at the Whistle Stop in Birmingham. He squirreled away money and eventually purchased the Double Ee. With success at the little diner, he was then able to purchase the Whistle Stop. He now owns two Whistle Stops in Birmingham and Pleasant Ridge.

"I hope to be able to give some of them jobs," Xhomaqi said of his six employees at the Double Ee. Though he acknowledges this may not be possible. Some people will be out of work.

Lulgjuraj, who said she was contacted by some other restaurants for possible work, may be one of them.

"I don't know what is next," she said, as she shook her head, still trying to process the unknown.

For customers having one last meal at the restaurant on its final day, the environment was both cheerful — it was Father's Day, after all — but also sad.

Many — who were regulars — made their way to Xhomaqi to shake his hand and say they were sorry to hear the restaurant was closing.

Duff Martin, 61, was one of those who wanted to say something to Xhomaqi.

"I'm sad to hear you're closing," he said.

Martin, who currently lived in Warren, said he grew up in Ferndale. The restaurant was somewhere he often visited, but more so it was where his sister Debbie had gone every single day, for years, before she passed away two years ago.

After hearing via friends and Facebook that the restaurant was closing, Martin decided to come with his son for Father's Day to enjoy one last meal. It also happened to be Debbie's birthday, so its was particularly poignant.

"My sister used to sit at that stool," Martin said, pointing to a seat near the cash register.

"She was a regular. It was like 'Cheers,' " he continued, explaining that he had hoped to sit where Debbie used to sit, but the spot had been taken when he arrived.

For Nick Grajqevci, a cook and Xhomaqi's cousin, it was no surprise that so many customers made their way to the restaurant Sunday to say goodbye.

"Everyone loved us," he said. "We took care of them."