Linda Minor retires as diner is under new ownership

Linda Minor (left) hand-picked her successor in business. Portia Hall (right) will be the new owner at Linda’s Diner starting Monday morning.

by Marsha Chartrand

You may have noticed a new face “in training” over the past month at Linda’s Diner!

That new face is now the new owner of Linda’s Diner, Portia Hall. For the past year or so, Linda Minor had been toying with the idea of retirement, and now that dream has come to fruition! She took nearly six months to search for just the right candidate to take over the business, helped by her friend Jennifer Wojtowicz of Proper Property Services.

It was very important to Linda that Jennifer find someone who would make the effort to keep things mostly the same as they have been the past few decades. As of Saturday, Linda successfully handed over the keys to Portia. The diner’s name will remain the same, and along the way you may see some more new faces, and even some new menu items, but the changes should be very subtle.

Linda’s statement of her feelings on Facebook was a heartfelt one, and one recognized by every business owner who has gone through a similar process.

“With joy and a heavy heart, after 18 years, 7 months, and 12 days, I have sold my Diner,” she said. “I will always be thankful to everyone that has ever walked through my Diner’s door. If it wasn’t for two amazing women before me, Linda’s Diner would never have happened — thank you Kim Lee and Melissa Brooks-Duvall. My heart will always be filled with great memories. … My prayers and best wishes to Portia, I know you’re going to do great. May God bless you all.”

Congratulations to Portia and Happy Retirement to Linda!

For as little as $1 a month, you can keep Manchester-focused news coverage alive.

by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.