MILLBROOK, May 13 — After 41 years of early mornings, bottomless coffee, and the best chicken-fried steak in the county, The Blue Hen Diner on Carver Street has permanently closed its doors. Owner Greta Palomino, 67, who took over the restaurant from her parents in 1998, announced the closure Sunday evening in an emotional Facebook post that has since been shared more than 2,400 times. Palomino cited a combination of skyrocketing wholesale food costs and a failed lease renegotiation with her landlord, Carver Street Properties LLC, as the deciding factors.
A Millbrook Institution
The Blue Hen was more than a restaurant — it was a community hub. Local firefighters held their morning briefings there, the Millbrook High School cross-country team celebrated every championship with a pancake breakfast, and the diner famously stayed open through the ice storm of 2018 to feed stranded motorists. Former mayor Dennis Arquette told the Courier the diner was "the kind of place that made Millbrook feel like home." Regulars flooded the comments of Palomino's post with memories, recipes they'd reverse-engineered, and more than a few tearful goodbyes.
- The Blue Hen opened in 1983 under Greta's parents, Lou and Marta Palomino
- Known for its signature "Hen House Scramble" and homemade biscuits
- Employed up to 18 staff at peak times
- Final day of service was Sunday, May 12
Palomino said she has no immediate plans to reopen elsewhere but has not ruled it out entirely. A farewell gathering for regulars and former staff is being organized for Saturday, May 18, at Riverside Park Pavilion B, starting at 10 a.m. Anyone who worked at or frequented the Blue Hen is welcome. Organizers are asking attendees to bring a dish to share — ideally one inspired by the diner's menu.
