Angelo's in Flint, Michigan: The Proverbial Greasy Spoon

Hangouts are a part of a town's character. Every town has a hangout, whether it is a local bowling alley, the Wal-Mart parking lot, or the hospital cafeteria. The local diner is a popular hangout, too. On the east side of Flint, Angelo's is that place. Everyone in Flint knows where Angelo's is because everyone has a history there. Opening in 1969, the family owned Greek diner became famous for its "2 up" - waitress slang for "two coneys with onions." It was a big draw for the shift workers at the factory that was located only a few blocks away. But it wasn't only the "shoprats" that frequented Angelo's. Even after the factory closed in the early 1990's, the customers continue to pour in.

The ambiance of the hangout is slightly less than upscale. Requesting clean silverware risks the pesky customer's chili getting something "extra" added. Complaining about a fly in your fries causes the manager to explain, "Don't worry...we won't charge you for the extra meat." And asking what the "Soup of the Day" will get you the response - "Campbell's."

Yet for many, Angelo's played a role in landmark life events. One regular customer's parents got kicked out of the diner frequently while they were dating. Their violations? One included passing the ketchup...across three tables. It was the popular place to take first dates for three generations. And it was the place to take people who were just visiting from out of town. One regular customer's father was even asked to bring Angelo's to him - via some cheeseburgers and coneys - when he started a new life in South Carolina because "they just didn't have anything like that down there." Not even the fifteen hour trip could conquer the taste of a grease-soaked Angelo's cheeseburger.

But Angelo's is not only a place where beginnings are celebrated. It is also a place that celebrates many endings. Angelo's is the place where my father met with some buddies from the factory, even after they were retired. The last remaining member of that group attended my father's funeral and recollected to me the good times they had at their hangout. It is the gathering place for many high school graduation parties - wearing the complete graduate regalia for dining. It is tradition for many high school students to dine there before prom. A ketchup stain on a tuxedo shirt is a badge of honor for many Flint fellows. Cheeseburgers and coneys from the popular restaurant caused the end of the local high school football team's championship run by inflicting "extreme stomach cramps" and "doubled over pain" for the players who gave in to its greasy allure. And it was the meeting place for one regular patron's "Bon Voyage" party when a friend drank an entire bottle of hot sauce in homage to the guest of honor.

For several generations, Angelo's has continued to be the perfect gathering place for both the pretentious and the poor. Today, it continues to serve the community as an unchanging family diner. It serves as a diner for those without families. And it serves as a diner for those who consider the diner itself to be part of their family.