Good Truckin’ Diner veers into Old Town

Good Truckin’ Diner’s owners admit they should have moved to a new location years ago — they just hadn’t found the right one.

“We should have gotten a bigger space a lot sooner,” co-owner Nick Sinicropi said. “But we were very particular about where we went.”

The diner’s former location in REO Town had only 26 seats. Co-owner Nora Gorman said wait times often hit two hours on weekends, and they sometimes had to kick customers out who had paid their bills.

The diner has more than tripled its seating at its new location, which opened March 17 in Old Town’s Creole building. Menu offerings have also increased to include espresso, mocktails and pastries, while closing hours have expanded from 3 p.m. daily to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 3 p.m. on weekends.

Sinicropi said Old Town was a natural choice for the new location.

“The neighborhoods we knew we’d fit in the best with were REO Town and Old Town, and there was no space in REO town for an upgrade,” he said. “We didn’t want to make a lateral move, so when this building became available, it was pretty much a no-brainer.”

The Creole building is named for the former Creole Cigar Co., which occupied the space from the late 19th to the mid-20th century. The building was remodeled in the ‘90s by the late Robert Busby, the “mayor of Old Town,” who turned it into an art gallery by day and a music venue that hosted shows several nights per week. A fire tore through the building before it was remodeled, the scars of which still line the walls.

Gorman, an Old Town resident, called Busby a “legend” and said she’s excited to establish Good Truckin’ in the historic location. Her mother works just down the street at the Arts Council of Greater Lansing.

“We really love the Old Town community,” she said.

Sinicropi and Gorman said they’re working on obtaining a liquor license for the Old Town location.

“We always heard at the old location that our food would go great with alcohol,” Gorman said. “We think we’ll bring in a really large brunch crowd, and we’re also going to be open for dinner now.”

Gorman said the 7 p.m. closing time will be extended even later after the liquor license is secured.

The REO Town location, which Sinicropi and Gorman hope to reopen in the next couple of months, will become a quick-service restaurant focused on sandwiches, pastries and ice cream, including vegan soft serve.

“We’re not going to have servers, just a few tables,” Gorman said. “People can come in, get food and leave, and we’ll do large catering orders.”

While the diner’s offerings have expanded, Sinicropi and Gorman said increased space has made the greatest impact. They can now accommodate larger parties — they previously limited party sizes to five — and customers can relax a while longer after they finish eating.

“People can come in and enjoy their time here,” Gorman said. “They don’t have to feel rushed.”