Customers happy they are open again

BOISE -- A piece of the past has reopened on Highway 21.

The former Hilltop Cafe, now named the Kodiak Grill, is open for business, and during the lunch hour the place was booming.

NewsChannel 7 talked to the owner about her efforts to reopen this staple on the side of the road.

Owning and operating a restaurant is something owner Danarae Clor never thought she would do.  But today we found her greeting customers as they walked through the door.

“Slowly but surely got the foundation done and we moved in, and moved in, and moved in, last year we opened up the store in September," said Clor.

It started with a convenience store and for 10 months that served the public, but now the restaurant is open for business.

Danarae and her husband Don bought the dilapidated building back in 2005.  Don had the idea to open the restaurant.  They worked together to make it happen until Don died of a heart attack last May, leaving Danarae to finish.

She says it's been a work in progress, but now after a delayed opening, the restaurant is ready for business, and it didn't take long for people to come in.

"We think that it's been a long time coming, and we are so thrilled that it's finally here and we like to get out and get a good drive for a good food experience," said diner Dean Hoff.

"Never in a million years did I think that I would be running a restaurant or a store.  I hope that I did a good job and people enjoy it, and love it as much as we do," said Danarae Clor.

Since Don's death, family and friends have stepped in to help Danarae get the restaurant open and they were there working today for opening of the restaurant.