The College Park Diner has seen steady business for decades even as new and exotic restaurants have cropped up in recent years. The establishment sees a diverse clientele, which includes students, tourists and regulars. Patrons get their food quickly upon ordering — they can expect it within 10 minutes.

Dena Riad has seen a lot of life since she started working at College Park Diner in 2001. New babies, graduation celebrations, milestone birthdays — even a wayward car that once slammed through the structure.

College Park Diner has weathered stark economic times, and despite a booming restaurant scene in the city with flashier, upscale offerings, the business continues to thrive.

Owner Kamal Riad, who oversees the restaurant with his daughter, assistant manager Dena, had worked at the restaurant, then called Toddle House, for 15 years before taking over as owner in 1997. He then remodeled the space and switched the moniker to “College Park Diner,” staking his claim in an emerging restaurant scene in the city.

“It was about time to get my own,” he said, adding that he has seen a notable population increase since opening his diner. “The area was small, and now it’s growing.”

The restaurant’s unpretentious red and white theme decorates the three main aisles with tables, including a long white bar with additional seating. Employees can be seen grilling away behind the bar.

Despite what Riad called a rough patch during the “George W. Bush economy,” the business has become a quintessential component of the historic, privately owned businesses scattered throughout College Park. About 20 percent of his customers are college students, another 20 percent are tourists, and the rest are local regulars.

Riad said he attributes his success to an extensive group of repeat customers who keep his restaurant alive, as well as a crop of employees who have worked there for at least four years. His business strategy emphasizes a welcoming atmosphere with immediate service — customers can expect their food made within 10 minutes.

“It’s very important to serve good quality food with a reasonable price,” Riad said. “Our service is very personable; we make it our business to know their names.”

Patrons flock to the restaurant from the hours of 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for breakfast specials, including two eggs, two pancakes and two bacon strips for $3.95, or eggs, meat, potatoes, toast or a biscuit for $9.50.

“Our French toast is the best,” Riad said, adding that the reasonable prices cater to college students’ notorious financial struggles. “We’re trying to help college kids; we know how it is.”

The restaurant’s goal to foster a family-oriented atmosphere starts inside the business: Dena came on board in 2001 and now oversees the restaurant as assistant manager.

For the last 11 years, Dena has had a front-row seat to the most intimate moments between families. Several months ago, a longtime customer celebrated her 100th birthday, and invited some of the restaurant staff to the celebration.

“We’ve seen people graduate high school, graduate college, get married, have kids,” she said. “It’s a family setting. It’s nice.”

Another time, she shut down half of the restaurant for an employee’s baby shower.

“She had twins. They’re six now,” she said.

Several students, including senior journalism major Alexsis Davis, said they don’t frequent the restaurant because it is too much of a hike from campus.

“I’ve definitely seen it, but because of all the other options around campus, I’ve never gone there,” Davis said, adding that she would usually choose Plato’s Diner for its close proximity. “[The College Park Diner]’s not accessible to me at all; it never comes across my radar.”

Several other students, including Annie Langdon, a freshman elementary education major, said they would relish the idea of 24-hour access to pancakes — if the establishment was closer to campus.

“There’s no pancakes here late at night,” Langdon said, adding that she doesn’t have a car on campus. “If it was by South Campus, I’d go.”