Lancaster Diner To Close Doors, Another Victim of the Pandemic

A popular Lancaster diner is closing its doors, due in part to the financial impact of COVID-19. According to WGRZ, the beloved Aunt Robin's Diner will close permanently on August 22, 2021. Robin Finsterbach, the owner of the diner, which was formerly named Uncle Tom's Diner, was a cook there before purchasing it seven years ago.

Yesterday, August 12, Aunt Robin's held one of its final dinners, providing free spaghetti meals to anyone who wanted or needed one. Finsterbach told WKBW that giving back is a tradition she has maintained throughout her ownership of the restaurant,

We did a Thanksgiving meal for everybody, same with Christmas, so we've been doing free dinners for the community for seven years now. Last year during the pandemic we got to still do our dinners, except Easter when everything was shut down.

The diner gave way more than 350 complimentary meals. Its Facebook page says that they ran out of food within 40 minutes. Aunt Robin's suffered a fate that many other restaurants in Western New York have, all due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unable to survive financially, closing their doors is the only option. It's sad because years from now when hopefully, we are out of the pandemic, we will look back and realize how many landmark businesses we lost.

The impact of the free dinner event was appreciated by many in the community, with people leaving heartwarming and thankful messages on Aunt Robin's Facebook page;

My heart breaks for all of you. So sorry your going through this. God Bless you for all you’ve done for your Community.❤️❤️❤️ ~ Georgeanna Agro Elliott

Godspeed on the next chapter/adventure. You and your biscuits and gravy will be missed. 😉 ~ Scott Pugh

My son and I love your dinner and we will miss you! Thank you for all the memories. ~ William G Radder Jr

Definitely was lots of people, and u did a great job, food was so delicious. ~ Sabrina Johnson

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