Terrance and Beth-Anne Rumph were no strangers to the restaurant business when they reopened The Moorefield Diner in the fall of 2010.
In fact, they originally opened the doors to the restaurant back in October of 2002. Beth-Anne admits the venture was a real eye opener, with a two-month-old baby, a busy husband and a then-busy restaurant. But with the help of staff she managed to run a successful business for five years. In 2007 the Rumph’s moved from a dairy farm to a chicken farm and decided to take a three-year hiatus from the restaurant.
In 2010 Beth-Anne came back to reopen The Moorefield Diner. This time around Terrance fully came on board as chief cook and bottle washer. The change, says Terrance, has been a remarkably good one, and both are pleasantly surprised how well he adjusted to the day-to-day operations of restaurant life.
Back in 2002, Beth-Anne found it challenging to please everyone and realized that was an unrealistic expectation. She says this time around she came back with a different outlook on things, and notes Terrance’s easy going attitude has helped her with that. Beth-Anne also credits the local community for the diner’s success.
Back in the 1990s a group of Moorefield citizens banded together to start a restaurant in Moorefield to ensure they had a place to go and meet one another. It was through this backing and commitment that the Rumph’s were able to carry on that business venture and have maintained a solid customer base as the business continues to grow.
“It’s very important for the restaurant to have the support of the community,” notes Beth-Anne, and “very important for the community to have the restaurant.”
Terrance and Beth-Anne have a passion for their customers and enjoy the friendly banter with their regular customers and welcoming new ones. One of Beth-Anne’s favourite things about the diner is that she can be in the kitchen and hear the ongoing bursts of laughter coming from her customers in the dining area.
“That’s music to my ears” exclaims Beth-Anne, “because you know that they are comfortable and feel at home.” It is just this type of atmosphere on which Beth-Anne and Terrance pride themselves. The Rumphs have set a daily goal to strive to bring the best quality food and service to their customers. They credit their excellent staff of 12 part-time employees for helping them achieve that goal and have even incorporated daughter Eaven into the business.
The day starts early at The Moorefield Diner, opening each morning at 7am with the exception of Sundays (9am to 2pm) and boasting an all-day breakfast. For lunch one can sink their teeth into delicious, top-selling, 100% Canadian beef hamburger or, on the lighter side, enjoy fresh made sandwiches or a variety of soups and garden salads. Other favourite menu items include fish and chips, chicken fingers and fries, and taco salad. Also available on the menu and uniquely tempting are deep-fried Mars bars, Twinkies and Oreo cookies. Deep fried pickles and vegetables, cactus cut fries and pork cutlets are also special features on the menu. To top it all off, the Moorefield Diner features homemade desserts.
The Moorefield Diner was recently awarded the contract to run the concession stand at the ball parks in Drayton and Moorefield and look forward to serving their customers from these new locations as well.
The Rumph’s have always been fervent supporters of The Blu Rein Foundation, a mission-based organization that offers humanitarian and medical aid to the La Colonia, Los Quernados in the Dominican Republic. They help fund this mission through the sale of jewelry and small gift items at the diner. Some of the jewelry is hand-made from Peru, Tibet and India and the Rumph’s only purchase from companies that adhere to a fair trade policy with employees. The restaurant and staff also sponsor a child through World Vision.
The diner is open Monday to Thursday from 7am to 3pm, Fridays 7am to 9pm, Saturdays 7am to 2pm, and Sundays 9am to 2pm. It is located at 42 McGivern St. in Moorefield, 519-638-0413.
