Pocono News Section

Obama Goes From Avenue Diner Customer to President

Obama Goes From Avenue Diner Customer to President - Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 5:30PM EST

WYOMING, LUZERNE COUNTY- During his campaign the new president made several stops in our area. They included an unscheduled visit to the Avenue Diner in Wyoming in September. Eyewitness News stopped back in Tuesday to talk with people who met "candidate" Obama as they watched the inauguration of President Obama.

In early September then-Senator Obama dropped in to the Avenue Diner in Wyoming. He took time to shake hands, take pictures, talk politics and even have some pie.

Tuesday his stool sat empty as the eyes of the world watched the inauguration from Washington. While it's an exciting time for the nation as a whole, it's even more so for those who got to meet the president here at the diner. Owner David Krappa said, "I think it's really amazing that the President was here, shook my hand, said hello to me, and now we're looking at him on TV in front of 2 million people. And I got a chance to meet him. It's a really remarkable day."

They even clapped as Obama went from former customer to leader of the free world, and recalled just how down to earth and approachable the future president was. Bill Hoover from Pittston said, "I think it's good. Like an ordinary Joe, just taking care of business, getting around talking to people."

And even those who missed Obama that day share in the excitement of his visit. Lisa Kozlowski from West Wyoming said, "I think it's fabulous. I wish I was here when he was here last August. It's great."

Pictures of the visit hang inside the front door for all to see. Customers frequently ask to sit in the same stool and have a piece of the same pie. "Everybody jokes about it. They ask for banana cream pie that he had that day also," said Krappa.

You could call it their own little slice of American history.