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 2 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 of their regular customers and welcoming new ones. Beth-Anne tells of a customer who was passing through town and had never been to the diner before. Upon listening to staff and a group of regulars exchanging friendly barbs, and the laughter that ensued, the customer exclaimed to Beth-Anne, “Oh my goodness, this place reminds me so much of the TV show Corner Gas” and that she would always remember the little restaurant in Moorefield. 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 boasts 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 top selling menu items include fish and chips, chicken fingers and fries, and taco salad. Every Friday night the Moorefield Diner hosts a pizza and wing night and for a reasonable fee offers delivery to the Moorefield, Drayton, Rothsay and surrounding areas. Delivery is limited to Friday nights and Beth-Anne encourages customers to call the diner to check the delivery area.
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 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).
