MODESTO – It’s dark and early, but the skillets are hot and customers are already here. A lot has happened in the last 100 years here at Old Mill Cafe: A change of venue, new ownership, and plenty of obstacles.
But one thing that stays the same are recurring customers.
Stanislaus County native Marlon Halton started coming to Old Mill as a child.
“First time I came to the Old Mill, I came with my grandparents,” Halton said.
He’s been a daily visitor since he retired 12 years ago, saying it’s the people who keep him coming back.
“We used to have a large group, but they’ve kind of fallen off,” Halton said. “And so I told them at the time that I was going to be the last man standing, and I think maybe I will.”
Marlon is one of two friends that remain.
“We used to fill up about half of this counter originally, but that’s been some time back,” Halton said.
Old Mill co-owner Michael Muharrev bought the diner 12 years ago. It hasn’t ever crossed his mind to rebrand, he says.