Beloved San Fernando Valley Diner Closing After Nearly 50 Years

RESEDA, CA — A family-owned San Fernando Valley diner that has served generations of customers is closing after nearly five decades, KTLA reported.

Heart's Coffee Shop, located at 16918 Saticoy St. in Reseda, will serve its final customers Sunday, Aug. 9. Owners Yuk and Sue Wong said rising food and labor costs, along with staffing shortages, made it impossible to keep the restaurant open, according to the station.

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The couple immigrated from China in 1969 with little money and no English skills, their daughter, Susan Wong-Young, told KTLA. After working and saving for about a decade, they purchased the coffee shop in 1979 with help from its retiring owner.

Heart's became known for its traditional American breakfast and lunch menu, vintage dining room and heart-shaped roadside sign. The restaurant survived recessions, the 1994 Northridge earthquake and other major changes during its nearly 50-year run.

Wong-Young told the station that her parents resisted significant price increases because they did not want to pass rising costs on to longtime customers. The restaurant eventually began losing money, forcing the family to decide it was time for the couple to retire.

A developer has purchased the property and plans to demolish the building, KTLA reported. The diner's heart-shaped sign will be preserved at the Valley Relics Museum near Van Nuys Airport.

The family has also launched a GoFundMe campaign to support Yuk and Sue Wong in retirement.

Read the full report on KTLA.