SOUTH HADLEY — Long-standing breakfast and lunch establishment Egg & I reopened its doors to a flurry of customers on Monday at a new location in the South Hadley Plaza.
The restaurant, which was previously located at 26 Main Street in South Hadley Falls, was met with a busy first day following a four month absence.
“We were surprised we were able to see a lot of our former customers there,” said Egg & I owner David Simard. “When we closed at our former location, they seemed to follow us up here.”
“There were also some new faces, which was good to see after four months out of business,” he continued.
The restaurant first opened as Egg & I in the early 1980s, according to Simard, who has owned the establishment for the past seven years. The Main Street location closed on Aug. 31, 2018.
“I feel that this new location is more central,” Simard said of the move. “We’re proud to be part of the South Hadley Plaza… I think we’ll be able to better serve more of our customers. We have beautiful parking up here, we’re central in the town.”
Several diners said that they had been to Egg & I’s previous location and noted that they were pleased with the new space on Newton Street, highlighting aspects such as more parking spaces, lighting and an open floor plan. A Friendly’s previously occupied the space.
Marie Marion of South Hadley was among Egg & I’s returning patrons, and was eager to have the breakfast option back in town.
“We missed having a spot in town to have breakfast, so we were waiting for it,” Marion said.
“There’s more parking, there’s a lot of light, it’s clean,” she added of the new location.
Cyndi Steinbock of Chicopee also said that she had “missed the restaurant” during its absence.
Millie Steinbock, Cyndi’s mother, described the new space as “smaller but more open.”
“They’ll get good business here,” she said.
While several diners noted that the new location seemed larger, Simard said that it actually seats fewer people. The old location had about 130 seats available, and current space can seat 98 patrons. However, the new location’s floor plan can create the illusion of a larger area.
Although business remained steady, Simard and some patrons noted that the constant flow of customers was testing the restaurant’s resources.
“We kind of got it handed to us today, because we didn’t really advertise the opening, but I know there was a lot of anticipation,” Simard said, adding that staffing was somewhat shorter than expected on Monday due to a waitress being called to jury duty. “We certainly could have used more staff today, which I have to look seriously at.”
The restaurant currently employs about 10 people, Simard said, and most employees from the restaurant’s previous location have returned.
Marion said that it was apparent that crowds were somewhat overwhelming for the establishment, adding, “I think they were surprised at how many people came.”
Jennifer Fournier of South Hadley also said she experienced “a little bit of a wait,” but added that she found the food “delicious” and thinks the restaurant will adjust as it gets back into business.
Fournier recently moved back to the area and recalled having been to Egg & I’s old location. She said she was curious to see the new location.
“I think it’s going to work out very well for them,” she said.
The restaurant will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Jacquelyn Voghel can be reached at jvoghel@gazettenet.com.