Saint John Diner Busier Than Ever At New West Side Location

SAINT JOHN – Island Girls Diner’s sixth anniversary in July marked a double celebration of continued business and a thriving new location.

In May 2015, sisters Sherri Bridges and Marjorie Perry, who were servers at the Big Stop Irving restaurant in Rothesay for 16 and 13 years respectively, put their heads together to open a diner.

“We didn’t have the schooling, we didn’t have the money, but we had the determination which was which was which pushed us to continue and to bring us where we are today,” says Bridges, adding she had a $25,000 line of credit to help establish the diner.

After finding the former Leon’s Supper Club building on 2171 Ocean Westway Way, they got the ball rolling.

“There was no business plan, it was just an idea – within eight weeks, we had the place up and operating,” she said.

Island Girls Diner successfully ran for its first five years, but then the Covid-19 pandemic and the diner closed its doors.

Bridges said she and Marjorie were ready to lose the business, but after applying for Covid relief loans and grants Island Girls Diner reopened in August 2020.

Bridget bought out her sister, who decided to bow out of the business, and applied for a liquor license in January 2021.  However, the fire marshal found multiple code violations after inspecting the establishment.

“I decided to actually pick up everything and find a new location through the pandemic,” she said, whose six remaining staff followed her to a new establishment. “I just knew that patience and perseverance will eventually pay off and I kept moving forward.”

Bridges reopened Island Girls Diner this April after buying new equipment and revamping its new location at 800 Fairville Boulevard.

“I’ve gone from like basically off the beaten path to a prime location, we’ve doubled our business just in a matter of four months and tripled the staff,” she said.

Island Girls Diner’s staff has ballooned to 21 employees, received a liquor license and not only kept its regular customers, but gained scores more.

Bridges says she’s been able to fill jobs to help her grow, which is encouraging because she knows others have stuggled.

“I was speaking to a gentleman in Fredericton yesterday, and he asked me how am I getting all the staff because all the places in Fredericton right now are so understaffed,” she said.