For owner Joe Costa, Years, memories and appreciation

Contributing Writer

Community fixtures become so for doing much right for many people for a long time – and that’s how the Royal Cut Restaurant became a fixture for thousands of diners drawn to South Grove Avenue in Ontario for almost 30 years.

Since opening in 1989, owner Joe Costa offered good food and easy hospitality through changing times, weathering the departure of old-time dairy workers and recessions.

Now, in good times, the time came to close and for its owner to take some time for travel and relaxing.

“I loved the business, I loved the people,” Costa said during an afternoon visit to the restaurant a few days before serving the last guests earlier this month.

“I want to enjoy life.” Costa would keep the restaurant going if he were younger and up for putting in the time and effort. Still in the business, he owns the Chino restaurant Cock-A-Doodle, which you’ll be able to catch him on occasion.

“The biggest challenge in running a restaurant is keeping everything consistent,” Costa said, explaining the Royal Cut’s success stemmed from delivering the same high-quality service and food year after year.

The restaurant opened in 1989, back when dairy farms filled southern Ontario. The dairy workers became the Royal Cut’s most loyal customers until the dairies began to be phased out.

“This restaurant was built around the dairy people,” Costa said, estimating the number of remaining dairies at under two dozen from previous hundreds.

Costa credited effort and consistency for success and resilience through the departure of dairy and the tough 2008 recession.

He has made many memories over the years and built relationships that go beyond the business.

“I want to thank them all for being my customers throughout the years.”

– Text and photos/Fredy Ramirez