Galaxie Diner

Brad Myhre isn't your typical restaurateur. When Galaxie Diner opened in June 1996, he wasn't hoping to capitalize on a retro diner fad, nor was he expecting a runaway hit for Calgary breakfast lovers. In fact, he never advertised – even from day one, he says – and purposely kept it a hole-in-the-wall for locals who would have to go out of their way to find it, a notion inspired by his travels through the quaint towns of Quebec and New England. "I just fell in love with those places," he says. It was the Littleton Diner, opened in 1934, in Littleton, New Hampshire, that inspired the look and feel of Galaxie Diner. The allure of old diners, with their hot coffee, cozy interiors and rich history, appealed to Brad’s adventurous and warm personality.

The interior of Galaxie Diner is narrow, shaped like a railcar. This is no accident – 1930s diners were designed to be shipped on flatbed railroad cars. It also looks right from the era, though not kitschy or a cheap throwback. With its Formica chrome tabletops, red vinyl booths and Venetian blinds, it’s a scene out of an old film – without the cigarette haze. The sizzle of mountains of hashbrowns, eggs and sausages being fried is part of the soundtrack, along with conversation and laughter. It’s a cozy, intimate setting.