7-2-18

By: Blake Watson, Staff Writer, Jay County Visitor & Tourism Bureau

Midwestern Favorites Served at Koffee Kup Diner

Delbert Beals, a Portland Businessman started his Diner at the current location of Koffee Kup Diner, 301 North Meridian Street around 1964. Beals' restaurant enterprise grew, and he became a well-known local restaurateur offering customers with a full menu of delicious food. A young lady, Kathy Davidson began working for Beals' restaurant at the young age of 18 years old in 1968. Davidson became familiarized as a waitress with taking orders from customers and learning how to produce and prepare tasty dishes. Her passion for learning the behind-the-scenes operation of a diner also grew.

After leaving the restaurant business for some years, when the opportunity arose, Davidson purchased Beals' Diner around 2006. From her experience at working for Beals many years earlier, she continued to realize that this was her calling and passion to serve families and individual customers in the restaurant business. Davidson renamed the restaurant to Koffee Kup Diner, which matched well with the first letter in her first name, Kathy. As a new restaurant owner, she decided to preserve the interior of the Diner in reverence to its retro-feel with a few important and essential upgrades. Davidson's business mission, which she still pledges is to serve high-quality homecooked meals, where customers feel like they are being served from her own personal kitchen at home. Customers are welcomed by friendly staff and have the choice to sit at either table or booth seating. If you are in a rush or prefer to order from home, Customers can take advantage of ordering from the Koffee Kup Diner's extensive To-Go Menu.

Koffee Kup Diner is always found bustling with customers during its business hours. Davidson remarked that not only does her Diner have a strong following of local "regulars", but it also is home to those familiar "regulars" who visit annually for the Tri-State Gas Engine & Tractor Show, Vintage Bike Show and many other heavily attended, local events around Portland. Today, the Diner is known for its 1960s Charm, along with serving many Midwestern favorites, including mouth-watering Jumbo Breaded Tenderloins, Beef & Noodles, Biscuits & Gravy and a wide selection of homemade Pies.

The Diner is a proud Member of the Indiana Foodways Alliance and the Hoosier Pie Trail. Current Diner Business Hours are Mondays through Fridays, 5:30 AM to 4 PM, Saturdays, 5:30 AM to 2 PM and Sundays, 7 AM to 1 PM. If you would like to inquire further about the Diner or place a To-Go Order, Customers are encouraged to call the Diner at 260-726-3800.