New Diner Alert: Ronnie's Country Kitchen Opens Oct. 9

Nashua is becoming a true breakfast destination, with another new theme-eatery on the horizon. Ronnie's Country Kitchen opens Wednesday Oct. 9 at 200 Temple St., the old Nashua Diner location. 

It's actually a great little story – new owner Ronnie Rodier said he used to hang out at the restaurant back in the day, when it was Howdy Beef Burgers.

"It was the place to be in the 1960s – everyone would be parked outside in their hot rods," said Rodier.

"And the burgers were 15 cents a piece," said his brother, Daniel Rodier.

Rodier said he has had his eye on the location for quite some time, and wanted to buy it for maybe the last five years. When he found out the Nashua Diner had closed and the building was available, he swooped in.

"I happened to drive by one day after noticing it had been closed for a few days, and found out it was available, so I bought it – within the week," Rodier said.

That was Sept. 11.

Rodier quickly assembled a dedicated crew of family and friends who put in 200 man hours cleaning and painting and scrubbing and redecorating.

"Now we're just fine tuning the menu," said Rodier, who not only fed his crew a "thank you" breakfast on Friday, but also fed a few curious customers, no charge, after they saw all the cars and came in, thinking he was open for business.

Rodier, who grew up in Hudson and now lives in Litchfield, has added some interesting conversation pieces to the property – he's brought in some old farm equipment he's been collecting, which is placed just beyond the parking lot, near Temple Street, including an antique Messinger crop duster, all in support of his Country Kitchen theme.

He's also added two large farm-themed murals inside, and refurbished the entire restaurant.

"People will see the difference between the way it used to be, and what we've tried to do," Rodier said. 

He will continue to fine-tune the menu, but hopes the public will come out on Wednesday to say hello and try the food.

"We were going to open on Monday, but I wanted to give everyone a chance to rest up, after all the work they did to make this happen in just three weeks," Rodier said.

He said in particular, he wanted to thank his brother, Daniel Rodier, who happens to be Daniel's Hand-D-Man, of Hudson, as well as his sisters, Dawn Bouchea and Gail Cloutier, his son, Mike, who was there to help every day, and his daughter, Jaime Rodier, who will be on site manager.

Ronnie's Country Kitchen will be open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., serving breakfast and lunch.