Former Yak Diner in North Apollo reopens with new owners as Dolly's Diner
An iconic roadside diner reopened Monday under new ownership and a new name in North Apollo.
Dolly’s Diner, formerly the Yak Diner, welcomed patrons beginning at 6:30 a.m., after months of renovations and relocating of the classic 1950s-style diner from 2104 River Road less than a half-mile to its new address at 2130 River Road.
Co-owners Toni Stefanik of Apollo and Arlene “Dolly” McCoy, 68, of North Apollo were busy cooking, busing tables, helping staff and making sure opening day went smoothly.
“It was the end of life up there, with the Yak. The lease was up,” McCoy said of the need to relocate the diner. “I love old stuff, and I always liked the diner up there. It’s led its life up there, and it needed to continue.”
McCoy also owns Dolly’s Guesthouse, a three-bedroom rental guesthouse along the banks of the Kiski River, on the same grounds as Dolly’s Diner.
Customers at the diner have included folks from South Carolina and New York. McCoy referenced the popularity of groups on social media that are dedicated to patronizing historic diners.
“We’re busy. But I gotta keep busy. We have 3,000 followers on Facebook, and we are hearing from customers coming from far away,” McCoy said.
The building’s original home was in Wilkins Township, near Monroeville, where it functioned as the Gateway Diner from 1956 until 1976.
Next, the classic American stainless-steel diner, which seats about 60 customers, was relocated to Washington Township, where it served as a video store.
In 1992, the diner moved to North Apollo, where it opened as the Yakkitty-Yak Diner, and later the Yak Diner, until it was sold to Stefanik and McCoy earlier this year.
On Monday, server Emma Taylor, 19, of Lower Burrell, and McCoy’s granddaughter, was busy serving root beer floats, hearty breakfast meals and lunches.
Taylor said customers were eager to get back into the booths that are lined by large windows running the length of the diner. Others chose to sit on pink stools at the classic counter top.
“We’re not too busy; we’ve been steady. We tried to open quietly,” Taylor said.
Engaged couple Jane Martin and Rich Shirley of Kiski Township settled into a booth and ordered hot roast beef and a TV dinner meal.
The couple said they had been waiting “for months” for Dolly’s to open.
“We couldn’t wait to come here,” Martin said. “We used to eat several times a week at the Yak. I like what they’ve done in here. The curtains are beautiful, and the workers are friendly.”
Martin’s TV dinner meal was served on a stainless-steel, retro-style cafeteria tray.
“It just brings me back when I’m here. They play oldies music, and I went to the Yak for about 20 years,” Martin said.
Tommy Scanga, owner of Del Vecchio’s Market in Vandergrift, was one of the first customers Monday morning, enjoying breakfast with his wife.
“We wished them a lotta luck. It has to be a very scary time to open a restaurant today, but you can tell they know what they’re doing and they’re good at it,” Scanga said.
The famous Yak Mak also is back — sort of.
The Big Mac-inspired staple burger and signature item has a new name, the Dolly Mak, and is served with a secret sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions.
Dolly’s boasts classic diner fare with generous portions and affordable prices. Customers used to the Yak might notice some upgrades and changes inside the diner.
“We ripped the roof off, put new ceilings in and completely gutted and remodeled the kitchen,” McCoy said.
A new baking room was added to accommodate the daily dessert/pie case, featuring assorted homemade pie flavors such as peach and apple.
Head baker Pam Fouse is in charge of the daily desserts. The Grandma Gray Cinnamon Rolls were a popular item Monday.
“My grandmother taught me how to bake. They’re named after her — Mabel Gray,” said Fouse, adding she never bakes from a recipe.
Dolly’s Diner is open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Customers can order breakfast, lunch or dinner anytime, all day.
For now, cash is the only form of payment accepted, and takeout orders are on hold until June 27.
“We have to ease into opening and getting everything running,” McCoy said.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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