{"id":311068,"date":"2026-10-21T05:00:13","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T05:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/311068\/"},"modified":"2026-10-21T05:00:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T05:00:13","slug":"valliants-diner-in-ross-gets-a-new-owner-but-maintains-its-retro-charm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/311068\/","title":{"rendered":"Valliant\u2019s Diner in Ross Gets a New Owner, but Maintains Its Retro Charm"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Valliantsbuilding\"<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER<\/p>\n

In August, when Aaron Easler bought Valliant\u2019s Diner<\/a>, he hung a \u201cClosed\u201d sign on the door so he could clean, organize and adjust to life as a restaurant owner.<\/p>\n

He quickly learned that the Ross eatery belongs to the customers.<\/p>\n

Regulars filtered in through the front and back entrances, occupied their usual booths and ordered breakfast favorites while chatting with the longtime waitstaff.<\/p>\n

Unfazed by the business-as-usual onslaught, Easler accepted money for the meals on a donation-only basis and gave all $400 to nearby Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church<\/a>, where former proprietor Gerri Valliant is a dedicated member.<\/p>\n

Valliant\u2019s parents, Peter and Helen, opened the diner in 1968, and he helmed the place for more than 30 years before hanging up his apron.<\/p>\n

\"Valliantsfamily\"<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER<\/p>\n

\u201cUp until that point, I didn\u2019t fully understand what a pillar this place is,\u201d says Easler, who grew up in the area and left a career in graphic design to pursue his dream of running a greasy spoon. \u201cI like the community aspect of it. I didn\u2019t want to see it turn into something else.\u201d<\/p>\n

Employee Jana Howard worked at Valliant\u2019s when she was in high school and returned last week to bus tables alongside her teenage children. She believes the beloved institution is in good hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cGerri waited for this family,\u201d she says, smiling at Easler during a Friday morning rush.<\/p>\n

The 34-year-old knows he has big shoes (and bellies) to fill.<\/p>\n

So, what\u2019s it like taking over a famous landmark that appeared in a Super Bowl commercial and the horror movie \u201cMy Bloody Valentine 3D\u201d?<\/p>\n

Easler compares it to making an omelet without breaking an egg.<\/p>\n

\"Valliantsmenu\"<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER<\/p>\n

Luckily, he has a lot of support and an experienced crew in his corner.<\/p>\n

Before retiring, Gerri Valliant gave Easler a crash course in restaurant ownership, while veteran employees such as Kim DiBortoli introduced him to the regulars who are more like family members.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe customers keep me here,\u201d DiBortoli says, adding that her kids have also worked at Valliant\u2019s. \u201cIt feels like home.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the end of September, Easler officially shut down the diner for two weeks and, with his dad\u2019s help, painted the dining room, streamlined the prep station and tackled multiple behind-the-scenes projects. His mom, who passed away two years ago, is there in spirit.<\/p>\n

\"Valliantsnew2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER<\/p>\n

Valliant\u2019s vibe is mid-century Americana meets the neon colors of \u201880s sitcom \u201cSaved by the Bell.\u201d Cosmetic touches gave it a subtle refresh.<\/p>\n

Easler, former creative director of Pittsburgh-based marketing agency Top Hat<\/a>, plans to restore the diner\u2019s retro sign on Babcock Boulevard and update the menu with more locally sourced ingredients, scratch-made offerings and weekend specials.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s even talk of introducing late-night hours and hosting a ticketed dinner series that would benefit local nonprofits.<\/p>\n

\"Valliantsnew3\"<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER<\/p>\n

Manager Danny Krakowiak, who\u2019s spent decades in the service industry, was busy flipping flapjacks on the day I visited. He\u2019s committed to attracting new patrons while keeping familiar faces happy and well-fed.<\/p>\n

Valliant\u2019s was my go-to breakfast spot when I lived in Ross, so I ditched my healthy diet for the day and went with a nostalgic order of coffee, eggs, home fries, rye toast and five strips of the crispest bacon in the \u2018Burgh.<\/p>\n

Alex Wiwel, a fellow University of Pittsburgh graduate, sat beside me at the counter, enjoying a ham sandwich and a Turner\u2019s iced tea.<\/p>\n

The 24-year-old California resident visits Valliant\u2019s every time he\u2019s in town on business.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the embodiment of Pittsburgh and middle America,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Easler shares the sentiment and hopes to preserve it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to amplify the soul of what it is, and do so in a playful and interesting way,\u201d he says. \u201cThere\u2019s a big opportunity here to do something special.\u201d<\/p>\n

Valliant\u2019s Diner is located at 3418 Babcock Blvd. in Ross. Hours are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.\u00a0\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER In August, when Aaron Easler bought Valliant\u2019s Diner, he hung a \u201cClosed\u201d sign on…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":311069,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[73,75,74],"class_list":["post-311068","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pittsburgh","tag-pittsburgh","tag-pittsburgh-headlines","tag-pittsburgh-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/311068","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=311068"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/311068\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/311069"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=311068"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=311068"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=311068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}