Last Plate Washed at Tom's Family Restaurant

Ten minutes to closing time and customers were still streaming in to get the last meal served at Tom's Restaurant.  

Joyce Grier and her lady friends called the "Morning Group" have been enjoying coffee and muffins at Tom's for over 35 years, five days a week.

"It won't be the same," Grier said. 

Customers of all ages were sharing "Tom" stories as they were perched on plastic stools, known at the neighborhood restaurant. Members of the Homewood Historical Society stopped by to purchase menus. Proceeds from the menu sales will go to the . 

Several former Homewood business owners stopped by to wish Tom and his mother well.

"We had to come by and say goodbye to a Homewood landmark," Ray Nielsen from the former  said. Joining in with goodbyes were Mario Santacaterina who owned Marlins Camera on Ridge Road, Dr. Gary Nordbrock and George, the original owner of . 

As longtime customers continued trickling in, Tom popped the champagne and thanked them for many long years serving his friends in Homewood.

"As of now I'm 15 minutes into retirement, I just want to say thank you to all of you," he said.