By Ian Nikkel, FOX23.com News Staff
BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — Nearly two months after a vehicle crashed through Oneta Station Diner in Broken Arrow, employees are returning to work and preparing to welcome customers back.
The crash forced the diner to close for weeks while repairs were made, leaving employees and regular customers waiting for the restaurant to reopen.
For waitress Melissa Newkirk, returning to work also means going back to the place where she experienced a frightening close call.
Newkirk said she was serving customers when the vehicle came through the restaurant and had moved out of its path moments before the crash.
“I had actually just moved from where actually the car was, so, like, right off the path of it before it came through,” Newkirk said.
After weeks away, Newkirk said she is looking forward to getting back into a familiar routine.
“I’m excited to get back to work and just get some normalcy of, you know, the workflow and seeing all of our regulars and just catching up,” she said.
Those regular customers continued showing their support even while the diner was closed.
Newkirk said people routinely stopped by to check on the restaurant and its employees. She recalled one couple who left a note on the boarded-up diner telling the staff they loved them and were praying for them.
“We had people checking on us. We’ve had people constantly coming up to the diner,” Newkirk said. “We had a couple that comes in here all the time write us a note when we were boarded up that they loved us and they were praying for us.”
For Newkirk, who has worked at the diner for nearly a year, the restaurant has become more than just a place to work.
“These people have become my family. Like, biggest support system,” she said.
That connection extends to the diner’s customers.
Newkirk said the restaurant received an enthusiastic response after announcing its reopening on Facebook, with customers saying they planned to return for breakfast and brunch.
“We’re trying to get ready to be busy for at least the foreseeable future with everybody just coming back,” Newkirk said.
Employees returned to the diner ahead of the reopening to put on the final touches, stock supplies and prepare for customers.
“We’re just coming back in today to do final touches, make sure we have everything stocked and prep for the morning,” Newkirk said. “So when everybody comes in, we’ll be ready for them.”
