Downtown Diner is under new ownership again.
John Biggs, a Lake of the Ozarks native who previously served as an executive chef at a handful of hotels and resorts, bought the business recently from former owner Rachel Gibson.
Biggs has already made several changes to the Jefferson City restaurant. He moved the diner from spaces in stalls at 129 E. High St. and 127 E. High St. into the stall at 127 E. High St.
Biggs updated the interior by commissioning a local artist to paint a 60-foot-long mural in the diner. Biggs also made smaller changes to the interior by removing most of its dated orange and green color scheme. The goal, he said, was to make the diner appeal to young people and the diner's existing clientele.
"Let's make it a place that I would want to go," Biggs, 40, said. "Let's just make it cool."
Biggs plans to open Sweet Smoke Barbecue on May 1 in the stall at 129 E. High St. The restaurant will have a barbecue smoker and bar.
Biggs plans to make some changes to Downtown Diner's menu in the coming months by removing items such as meatloaf. Still, he takes pride in classic hearty meals like bacon, eggs and hash browns the diner will continue to offer.
Downtown Diner will be open 7 a.m.-2 p.m. most days, while the barbecue restaurant will open around 11 a.m.
"It looks like two restaurants, but it's really one," Biggs said.
Gibson sold Downtown Diner to Corey Eikermann last May. Gibson took ownership of the restaurant again early this year, but declined to say why. With the business now his, Biggs said Gibson still works at Downtown Diner four days a week.
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