Wilkinsburg Community Welcomes Back Beloved Diner

WILKINSBURG (KDKA) -- There was lots of excitement in Wilkinsburg Friday night over the rebirth of a neighborhood institution.

It's nothing fancy, not a major enterprise, but very much the kind of place that gives a community glue.

Markie Maraugha and Greg Stocke are the owners of the newly re-opened Nancy's Restaurant, now called Nancy's East End Diner on South Street.

Nancy Bielicki got sick last year, too sick to run her business, and died last month.

After 40 years, her usually lively breakfast place stood empty.

"When we realized it was for sale, we kind of almost felt like compelled, like moved, like it was a calling almost," said Maraugha. "It sounds silly to say, but we felt like somebody needed to come in here and keep it exactly the same."

There are some tweaks, like more locally-sourced food and a few menu updates, but you can still get the scrambler and grits, even if the menu for the ribbon cutting was heavy on the locally-made Leona's Ice Cream.

But for Wilkinsburg, just having Nancy's back may be even sweeter.

"You're definitely needed,and I mean you have all of our support and the chamber backs you 100 percent," said Yvonne James, of the Wilkinsburg Chamber of Commerce.

"We have very big shoes to fill, but we know that we can do it and hope we honor her every day," added Maraugha.

James says Wilkinsburg is seeing a revitalization and the new Nancy's will be a great part of it.

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