Red checkered tablecloths, Rock ’n Roll wall d/cor, and lots of smiles and greetings from the owner, creates a homey atmosphere at the new Corner Diner at 516 Marion Pike in Coal Grove.

After 18 years in the restaurant business working in every area from waitress to manager, Mickey Jean Brown, of Pedro, lost her job when the owner went bankrupt.

“Instead of being unemployed, I decided to get a small loan and open my own place,” Brown said.

Her diner was previously a donut shop and the owners retired, she said.

“When I walked in here, I just fell in love with it,” she said. “So, I got a business loan July 31 and opened August 10. I’m very happy about it.”

Now, it’s friends’ and family enterprise with her daughter, Kelli and her nephew, Chris Jenkins, and others helping out.

Several friends and old customers from her last job have helped her including J.R. Bruce and Richard Scarberry, who helps keep the place clean.

“Actually, I consider everybody family that’s here,” Brown said. “I’m training Richard on doing my breakfasts. I’m cracking the whip on Richard.”

The diner has a menu with a variety of breakfast meals served anytime and right now mostly burgers, sandwiches and salads. Later, she plans to serve special dinners, like chicken and dumplings and desserts.

The most popular item on the menu right now is the Hornet Stinger, a one-pound burger on the largest bun she could find.

“It has six pieces of bacon, four pieces of cheese, lettuce, mayonnaise, pickle — the whole nine yards,” Brown said. “Actually, I can’t eat one.”

The next popular item on the menu is the Philly Steak sandwich.

“I can’t give you the secret to that,” she said. “There’s secrets to that and the Hornet Stinger, but I can’t give you that.”

Everything is homemade and all the burgers are grilled. One of the big breakfast hits is the biscuit and gravy, freshly made.

She has a big breakfast meal called the Hornet’s Nest with scrambled eggs, home fries, sausage, cheese and biscuit or toast.

They also serve French toast, pancakes and waffles.

The diner does not have desserts right now, but they will be carrying homemade pies and desserts in the near future.

“Janet Butler is going to be coaching us on how to make her homemade pies,” Brown said. “We just decided to wait until it’s cooler to make the pies. She coached us on the hot dog sauce to make sure it’s right because it’s her recipe.”

The Corner Diner grand opening is through Friday and offers a special pork barbecue plate for $3.99.

The diner is open from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 4 a.m. Thursday until 10 a.m. Sunday — 24 hours Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

“Everybody has made me feel welcome in the community,” Brown said. “I love it, I’m so happy, I can’t describe it.”