Patricia Lingenfelter and Joanna Nurnberger, both 72 of Greenfield, have a twice-monthly tradition to visit the Four Seasons Diner on the east side.

Lingenfelter has been coming since the diner’s opening in 1995. For Nurnberger, it’s been two decades. 

Those streaks ended during the COVID-19 shutdown when only to-go orders were available. 

“But as soon as they could open, we came back,” said Nurnberger, who enjoys the biscuits and gravy for breakfast. 

Four Seasons Diner, a family-owned restaurant at 1935 Shadeland Ave., was able to overcome the challenges of the pandemic to continue serving their longtime customers. The restaurant is continuing to thrive because of the comfort of home cooking and the friendly conversation that awaits them. 

And because of the family’s and longtime employees’ commitment to the business. 

“Some of our folks have been here for more than 20 years,” said Nicholas Potamousis, a manager and son of owner George Potamousis. “That’s part of our success for sure.”

Potamousis, 28, grew up in the business. He started working the cash register at 12 before becoming a server in high school and college. While he works at the eastside location, he spends more time managing his father’s second restaurant, the Four Seasons Family Restaurant in Greenwood. 

His cousin Mike Libere manages the eastside location. Libere, 46, has been working at Four Seasons since 1996. 

Libere lives within walking distance of the diner, which makes sense given that he works seven days a week for at least 9 hours a day. 

He likes how the job allows him to develop relationships with restaurant workers and longtime customers. “It’s like another family,” he said. 

Christine Rutledge, 67, started working at the restaurant the year after it opened. She agrees with Libere: “I’ve been around Mike (Libere) since I started working nights,” she said. “Mike is like a son from another mother.”

For eastsider Betsy Lemaster, who works as a server at the restaurant, her love for regular customers typically shows up in the form of a hug before someone even grabs a menu. 

But she also occasionally helps her customers outside of work, too. She’s had elderly customers run out of milk or other grocery items.

“I’ve picked it up from the store and taken it to them,” said Lemaster, 34.

At a table during a visit this month, four managers at an eastside steel mill equipment company told Mirror Indy about their regular visits to Four Seasons over the last 12 years. 

“It is nice for us to be able to sit down offsite for an hour or so,” said Rick Manasek, 71. “We like the staff here and the menu is pretty diverse.” 

He was joined at the table by three coworkers, who tend to spend their Tuesday and Thursday lunch breaks at the restaurant. 

His go-to item? The Greek salad. Others at the table prefer chili and the meatlover’s skillet. 

For coworker Ryan Spence, though, it’s the same every time: soup. 

“But I come here because these are my people,” he said.

The diner is open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. year round including holidays.

Mirror Indy reporter Diane Moore covers the east side of Indianapolis. Follow her on X at DianeMoore80711.

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