Millbrook Diner celebrates 35 years

MILLBROOK — The Millbrook Diner’s owners, Debbie and Thanasi Theodoropoulos, celebrated 35 years of ownership this week, continuing a tradition of serving the community that began when the diner opened in 1929.

Known then as the Millbrook Deluxe Diner, it was purchased as a prefabricated structure and moved from Westchester County.

The current structure, with its chrome silver exterior, carved figurehead, and neon lettering, has sat at 3266 Franklin Ave. since 1952.

Currently, the diner is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day. Over the years, the iconic diner has hosted a number of luminaries such as James Cagney, Mary Tyler Moore, and as recently as 2026, Justin and Hailey Bieber.

The couple took over from Donald Peters, who had been the proprietor for 10 years. The couple were in their early 30s at the time, and had never lived in Millbrook before. “We took over without knowing how wonderful this place would be for us,” said Thanasi Theodoropoulos.

With its cheery interior, generous outdoor seating options, and reasonable prices, the Millbrook Diner has become a bedrock of Millbrook’s eateries.

Theodoropoulos is originally from Greece, where he graduated from the Culinary Institute of Athens. He came to the United States and started working at Hyde Park’s Town & Country Diner — now known as the Eveready Diner — in 1986. That’s where he met and fell in love with his wife, Debbie.

The first few years owning the diner were difficult. It was Theodoropoulos’ first time working as an owner rather than an employee. “But the good thing,” he said, “was that the people of Millbrook embraced us. Throughout the years, they’ve loved us and we love them.”

The couple brought their own flair to the menu, while keeping the classics intact. Customers can find Greek classics like souvlaki, gyros, and moussaka alongside pancakes and burgers at the Millbrook Diner. They also sell olive oil from Kardamas, Theodoropoulos’ hometown in western Greece. His father has been making the oil for more than 40 years on a family farm near Olympia.

But while diner food has a reputation for having a staple menu, the Theorodopoulos’ have had to adapt with the changing times. “We’ve tried to add more healthy items,” Thanasi said. “People want more healthy things now, but maybe 60% of the menu are items from the past — like the reuben. You cannot change that. But now we have a turkey reuben in addition to corned beef and pastrami.”

More than three decades in business is quite an accomplishment, but “we’re not ready for retirement,” said Thanasi. “We’re still young, and we will be here for the people of Millbrook the same way they’ve been there for us.”