Maddy’s Diner
Middletown, New York
When Franco and Paula Fidanza bought Maddy's in 2012, it had a storied past. Feeding the community in that location since 1950, the diner survived a fire in 2006 and was renovated in 2007, but then closed again in 2010 amidst financial troubles. "I was a customer of Maddy's for many years before the fire," Franco says. "When the opportunity became available to take over and continue the tradition, it was a no-brainer for me."
Franco, who founded the Planet Wings franchise and has been in the restaurant industry for 17 years, wanted to honor Maddy's long history when he reopened and maintain its particularly local flavor. That feeling is obvious from the moment you walk in—smalltown small talk about sports, weather, and local politics can be heard at the counter, and staff and customers trade familiar banter. Three years ago, when a regular won $10,000 in the lottery playing numbers recommended by his waitress at Maddy's, he split the winnings with her—that's just the kind of tight-knit community that revolves around this diner.
