The all-day breakfast staple in a Connecticut diner is expanding and plans to take the place of another popular restaurant that has been around for more than five decades.
Blondie’s announced on Facebook that the restaurant’s third location will be in Union at the current site of Traveler Food & Books located at 1257 Buckley Highway, off of Exit 74 on Interstate 84.
“And just like that……Blondie’s #3,” the Facebook post reads with Blondie’s owner Julie Cook pointing at the Traveler Food & Book sign.
Blondie’s Diner already has locations in Willimantic and Chaplin. The Willimantic location is at 1681 Main St. and is open from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The Chaplin restaurant is at 250 Willimantic Road and serves breakfast and lunch.
Willimantic opened in 2015 and Chaplin opened about five years later in 2020.
“The love and support of the community at large are the reason those locations have been successful,” Cook said. “My staff’s hard work and dedication also is a big factor.”
Cook said the sales contract for the new Union location has been signed but they haven’t closed on it yet. That is expected to happen in about four weeks.
Cook said she had been looking to expand to a third location for a while and that this Union location “was the right fit for me.”
Cook said she’s been in discussions with Traveler about the property since October and that the property was on the market prior to that. She said the current owners are looking to retire.
Cook, who lives in Bolton, said she plans on expanding the hours that are currently at the Traveler, which is more dinner heavy. She described Blondie’s as more breakfast heavy.
Cook said the hundreds of comments on Facebook were “an overwhelming outpouring of love of what people clearly have for this restaurant.”
Traveler is known as a family restaurant that supports reading and gives books away with every meal.
The restaurant is owned by husband and wife Arthur and Karen Murdock. The restaurant was established in 1970 and the Murdocks have been at the helm since 1993.
Some of the celebrities who have visited the restaurant over the years include Bill Murray, Bruce Springsteen and Susan Sarandon.
In a Courant story last year, Karen Murdock said the restaurant has “approximately 50,000 books on-site” and allows three free books per customer and $2 for any books beyond the three.
“We give away over 100,000 books a year, and we’ve given away approximately 2 million books in 32 years,” Murdock said last year to the Courant.
Customers there are known to browse before and after their meal and the books often spark conversation between customers. The walls of the restaurant are also adorned with signed photos of noted authors. Jigsaw puzzles are also part of the décor.
Calls to the owners of the Traveler weren’t immediately returned on Sunday.
“I didn’t realize the impact that post would have,” Cook said. “I knew they were well known but it was and overwhelming outpouring of love for that place from across the state. I’m excited to add that restaurant to what I’m already doing. It’s going to be a great transition.”
Cook said the current Traveler staff of the restaurant are welcome to stay if they wish.
“They have love for the current owners and there was a lot of uncertainty they were feeling,” Cook said. “I met with some of them and to my knowledge they are going to stay. I’m excited and I think they are excited.”
There were hundreds of comments on the Blondie’s social media post announcing its expansion.
Most of the comments were asking whether Blondie’s would keep the books.
“Yes. I’m going to keep the books,” Cook said on Sunday. She did add the books may need a little “tightening up” due to a “capacity.”
Overall, the responses were positive to the Blondie’s expansion but also many customers didn’t want too much to change from the Traveler offerings.
“This is fantastic news. You have some of the best wait staff and cooks in the area. Add your magic and do your thing. Much success with your new endeavor,” one customer posted.
“Please don’t change it too much though! We love Travelers,” another one posted.
“Oh wow! We love Blondies and love here. I do hope you keep the books and staff. They are wonderful,” another post said.