59er Diner legacy carries on with new ownership

COLES CORNER — After nearly 20 years of ownership, 59er Diner and Cabins owner Joe Cannata is passing the torch to new owners, Ezra and Sheena Frenzel.

“I'm getting to the age where I do everything slower. So there's too many ideas, not enough time to get them done, and the diner kind of deserves to keep moving forward. So to have these guys come in full of energy, ready to go, I think that the diner will keep growing at the same sort of pace that it always has, and I think that's a really good thing,” said Cannata.

Cannata took over 59er Diner from the original owner Dodie Olson in 2008. Cannata, who owned another restaurant in Lynnwood at the time, had stumbled into the diner after a day of snowmobiling.

“I was coming home in the dark, and there was the neon light outside of the diner, and I pulled in here, and honest to goodness, I sat down, and Flo waited on me…I had a chicken fried steak and a black raspberry milkshake,” said Cannata.

Charmed by the diner’s authentic nostalgia, quality food and service, Cannata bought the restaurant less than four months later. While the world has changed around it, the diner has stayed nearly the same. The waitresses are still called Flo, and even the burgers follow the same recipe used by Olson. Since then, the 59er Diner has seen it all, from enduring fires to receiving a visit from Guy Fieri himself.

“I'm proud that the diner still feels like the 59er Diner really. Although many things have changed, I think the diner has stayed the same in the best way,” said Cannata.

In 2016, a fire engulfed the 59er Diner, burning down the building and all of the memorabilia with it. According to Cannata, the community helped him through. While Cannata rebuilt, Lake Wenatchee locals would drive down to the 59er Diner’s second location in Cashmere.

“They didn't do that because they really needed to have a 59er Diner burger. They did it just to pick me up,” said Cannata. “That happens time and time again in this community…The Lake Wenatchee community is an amazing community and they take care of their neighbors.”

In 2018, the 59er Diner returned to Coles Corner in grandeur fashion. Cannata had the entire building built in Georgia, then drove it across the country in an Elvis costume. By the time he arrived in Leavenworth, Cannata said it was like a parade. People lined the street with lawn chairs, watching and cheering as the 59er Diner made its way home.

A few years later, the 59er Diner made an even bigger splash when it was featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” after a surprise visit from Guy Fieri.

“It was huge when it went on TV, but you can still feel it. What, this is three or four years later now, and you can tell when a rerun comes on. You get a little perk in business every time a rerun comes on TV,” said Cannata.

Yet, Cannata’s favorite moments are those rooted in community. While the diner has regulars from the local area, it also has “regulars” from across the state, country and even world who make it a point to visit every year. Many customers have been coming for so long, that those who visited when they were kids are now returning as adults with their own kids.

“That's the best, is that it's been here so long now that kids that were five are now bringing their five-year-olds in. That's a great thing,” said Cannata.

Cannata is optimistic that legacy is carrying on with new ownership. Like Cannata, the Frenzels started as customers, coming in regularly for food and milkshakes, and watching their four kids dance to the jukebox over the past five years.

“Our love for this diner was way before we knew this was for sale. We love coming here. We love bringing our kids here. We love the atmosphere,” said Ezra Frenzel.

Now, their kids are helping pass out menus, looking after the diner’s chickens, and sporting diner merchandise and “Flo” nametags.

“In the two days of owning the business, so many locals have come up and introduced themselves and said, ‘Hey, you know, this is my name, and we'll be back,” said Frenzel.

The Frenzels plan to keep much of the diner as is, but are looking forward to adding their own legacy. According to Frenzel, the family is hoping to incorporate more community events, such as hosting 50s themed movie nights, and even adding a pickleball court behind the diner.

“We're really excited. We think it's such a great restaurant, and Joe's built such a great base for us to spring off our entrepreneurial energy and take it and run with it,” said Sheena Frenzel.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media