Stratford’s Blue Sky Diner Is Back

Blue Sky Diner reopened last week after closing nearly a year ago following an impromptu building inspection that discovered rusty I-beams in the building’s basement.

“I’m very pleased with the way everything came out,” owner Nikos Avramopoulos told Stratford Patch Monday afternoon.

“It was a long and stressful road,” he added.

Beside the required structural repairs, renovations include new booths, walls, lighting, windows and an updated computer system.

Avramopoulos said the place was basically gutted to be given a fresh look. He said one cosmetic change led to another.

The long path to reopen involved securing a loan and was hindered multiple times by severe weather, said the owner.

Avramopoulos, who last October estimated costs for repairs and renovations at more than $200,000, said funding from the state Department of Economic and Community Development was a big help.

“Without them this probably would not have happened,” he said.

Avramopoulos also wanted to thank his customers for their patience.

“I can’t tell you how many times people asked me when I’m going to reopen,” he said.