Prince Albert's Diner located on Richmond Row.
1996. 25 years ago. A quarter of a century.
That is when siblings Bill Spigos and Betsy Gallo took over the famous Prince Albert’s Diner on Richmond Row. The pair had no idea what a glorious adventure they were in for. However, time flies and after twenty-five years, the siblings are ready to move on from their famed diner.
Prince Albert’s has been a London staple as long as anyone can remember. For many, it has served as a family hand-me-down of sorts, a place where parents brought their kids only for their kids to return the favour to their young ones years later.
Bill says part of the reason is the comforting atmosphere, but the food played a big role in its success.
“We had a motto that we had to keep things consistent,” Bill says. “People would have a poutine and a burger fifteen years ago and they’d come back today and it’s the exact same thing.”
Old classics. A sense of nostalgia with each bite as you look out to see the always busy Richmond Row. Prince Albert’s didn’t just sell a meal and a milkshake, they sold an experience each and every time you swung open their door.
The chipped tiles, the never-changing decor, it was all a part of the experience.
Chad Raymond is a former employee of the diner who was lucky enough to be a part of their team for 11 years. I asked him why he feels the diner had the success with the community that it did.
Credit/Chad Raymond
“They had that little niche in being a legitimate 50’s diner…but I think in a lot of ways it’s the staff,” Chad explains. “The music we were playing was always with the times, I don’t think Bill ever told us to turn something off. If we wanted to play Slayer, he didn’t care, we could play Slayer.”
A laid-back environment with great food and music, what more could you ask for? It has been twenty-five years of sheer excellence by the two siblings and their incredible staff, past and present.
But with every great story has to come an ending. That ending is November 30.
The news has hit Londoners hard with Chad Raymond telling me he still can’t believe it’s soon to be gone.
However the news hasn’t seemed to hit anyone as hard as one of the people who made the decision, Bill. The part owner has been reflecting on what he’ll most about his iconic diner.
“We spent more time with our staff than we did at home a lot of the time, and you get close with a lot of them,” Bill says as he reminisces. “I’m going to miss the staff, and the customers of course, but like I said it’s been 25 years, a very long time, and I have no regrets.”
While noticeably emotional about the impending closure of his London icon, the owner seems more than content with how things are ending and is more than grateful for everyone involved in his diner’s success.
“Thank you isn’t enough,” says Bill. “This was a group effort from everyone across the board. From our customers, to our staff, to our suppliers, to our neighbours…it’s a big family and we were all in it together over this journey and I just want to tell them I love them all.”
A group effort it was. Twenty-five years of laughs and memories that Londoners will tell stories about for generations to come. Prince Albert’s Diner may have closed doors come the beginning of December, but its legacy will live on in the hearts of many.
If you have any memories you would like to share, the Prince Albert’s team encourages you to post them using the hashtag #PrinceAlsFamily.
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