Popular restaurant reopens

Kozy Korner was missed by regulars. With the founder's son reopening, all the old recipes are back.

By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 17, 2001

PINELLAS PARK -- Kozy Korner, a family-style restaurant at 5251 110th Ave., fed and nurtured area residents and workers from nearby businesses for 25 years.

The family-owned business was expanded several times and five years ago was sold.

Several months ago, without warning, the neighborhood institution closed. The restaurant's passing was mourned by loyal customers, among them city officials.

Now these same people are rejoicing that Kozy Korner is again in business and, even better, has returned to its original family ownership and those special recipes made famous by its founder, Kathy Hertlein.

"It's incredible. It's awesome," said Dawn Jones, who first began eating at the Kozy Korner eight years ago. "I come here for breakfast and lunch every day, five days a week. I really missed it."

Longtime patron Denise Dowling is back for the chicken noodle soup: "They make you feel really welcome. The waitresses are wonderful and the food is delicious."

Fran Lubelsky, who began working at the Kozy Korner 23 years ago, has her job back as dining room manager. "I'm happy to be back with the original owners. It's just like home," she said.

Kathy's son, Russell Hertlein, 29, is running the restaurant now, but he says he frequently calls his mom in North Carolina, double-checking that he has the right recipe for her sausage gravy, cinnamon rolls and toll house pies.

"Five years ago, I wasn't ready to take over the restaurant. Now I'm married with a family and it seems right, natural. I've always enjoyed the restaurant business and even thought about opening my own about six months ago," Hertlein said. "I guess everything works out for a reason."

He has known many customers from his early childhood: "I have 300 adopted grandparents. It's really like a family."

As before, the Kozy Korner is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Tuesday through Friday and for breakfast and lunch on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

At 10 a.m. today, the Pinellas Park Mid-County Chamber of Commerce will mark the Kozy Korner's return with a ceremony.

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