Business & Tech

Business Buzz: Orange's Newest Diner Lushe's Is Finding Its Feet [Video]

Owner Lushe Gjuraj is planning a grand opening to celebrate the new location.

(Click through above to see video content.)

Business Buzz profiles new, interesting or unusual businesses in the area. Want your business covered? Contact Local Editor Davis Dunavin at davis.dunavin@patch.com.

Lushe's Diner, at 285 Boston Post Road, is off to a good start.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

It's a relief for some. The location has had high turnover, with two businesses in and out in a relatively short period. But owner Lushe Gjuraj says she brings something different to the table.

"I've got 12 years of experience running a diner," she says. "And all my staff have years of experience. These aren't new people."

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Gjuraj has run Parkway Diner in Stamford for years, and still owns the location. But since July 11, she's been spending a lot more time at her new place, getting to the know the community, and she says it's paying off.

"I sure did have a lot of support from the community," she says. "At first, it was kind of tough, a little more different than I expected. But we are going to make it work, with their help.

Gjuraj says the diner's strengths are its menu -- a creative blend that she says aims to surpass standard diner fare, with everything from homemade donuts to whole-grain pancakes -- and the experienced staff.

"You've got seasoned waiters taking care of customers," says employee Jacqueline Milan, who describes herself as Lushe's old friend. "We know our menu. We're not fumbling with new items. We know what we serve, and we're good at recommending what we have and what people will like. People are going to like it -- they just need to give it a try."

While business has been steady from across the area -- not just Orange, but everywhere from Stratford to Woodbridge -- Gjuraj thinks she can turns locals into regulars with a grand opening in the near future that could attract several special guests -- more on that soon, she promises.

"We're starting to get a lot of repeat customers," she says. "Being here more and more, I see more regulars, and it's a good feeling ... I'm so lucky to be here." 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here