GLENBURN TWP. — A local diner shut its doors to the public on Wednesday, Dec. 16, but not permanently. And for a good reason.
The Glenburn Grill, 1144 Lackawanna Trail, owned by Linda and Alan Norsen, was closed through Saturday, Dec. 19, while Food Network’s “American Diner Revival” hosts Ty Pennington and Amanda Freitag gave the establishment a physical and menu makeover.
Pennington is well known as host of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” which won two Emmys for Outstanding Reality Program. Freitag is a judge on another Food Network show “Chopped” and has competed on the network’s “Iron Chef America.”
According to a Food Network news release, in the 14-episode series, the two hosts “help local towns lend a hand in saving their struggling neighborhood diners, utilizing a combination of Ty’s design expertise and Amanda’s culinary knowledge. With the help of the residents, Amanda and Ty only have a few days to transform these classic diners in desperate need of a physical and menu makeover, and give deserving owners the surprise of a lifetime with a new chance at success.”
The Glenburn Grill and Bakery is not unfamiliar with this concept of community members coming together to help each other out. But, it is more accustomed to being on the giving, rather than receiving end of things. For example, in September the business participated in the Rotary Club of the Abingtons’ Taste of the Abingtons fundraiser. And in March, it hosted the Love for Lynn fundraiser to purchase a handicap ramp and walk-in shower for local ALS patient Lynn Mitchell.
The owners are not permitted to discuss the business’ part in the show at this time, and the producers declined to comment on specifics.
The Glennburn Grill’s Facebook page did, however, post an announcement and call for volunteers to help with jobs such as “painting, cleaning, tearing things down, and carpentry skills.”
A synopsis on foodnetwork.com describes the episode, titled “Bakery Shake-Up:”
“Glenburn Grill and Bakery in Clarks Summit, Pa. needs to amp up their baked goods or else their business will be toast! The diner’s menu lacks the warm bakery foods they advertise, and their decor needs a home-style shake up. Can Chef Amanda Freitag and Renovation Expert Ty Pennington help this family diner make enough dough to stay afloat?”
An air date has not yet been released. New episodes of the show, now in its second season, air at 8:30 p.m. on Fridays.
More information about American Diner Revival, produced by Bray Entertainment, can be found online at FoodNetwork.com/DinerRevival.
