Linda Fitchett of Cobbs Creek, was only 20 years old when her father, Carl Goodwin, offered her a chance to run her own diner, and a lot of people thought she’d call it quits before six months had passed.

Now she’s preparing to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her business, Linda’s Diner in Mathews, and she wants her customers to know how much she appreciates their support.

To that end, Fitchett will offer daily specials throughout September—"Thirty Days for Thirty Years," she said—along with weekly drawings for a variety of prizes, including gift certificates, T-shirts, hats, and other items. Entry forms can be found in the Gazette-Journal.

The diner opens for breakfast at 6:30 a.m. every weekday and 7 a.m. Saturday. It closes at 3 p.m. every day except Friday, when it’s open until 8 p.m. for dinner.

Fitchett said her freshly prepared hamburgers, hand-rolled and patted, are her specialty, but the diner also offers a broad sandwich menu for lunch, including homemade crab cakes, barbecue, Philly steak and cheese, grilled chicken and fish. Friday’s dinner menu includes barbecue, chicken strips, and several seafood choices, along with whatever happens to be on special that week, from spaghetti to fried shrimp. The breakfast menu offers omelets, pancakes, French toast, biscuits, and egg platters with all the fixings.

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