Clinton Street Café: Inside 27 years of serving Binghamton diners

After 27 years in the business, Clinton Street Café, is still going strong despite many trials, tribulations and closings throughout Clinton Street in Binghamton.

The owners credit the success of their Binghamton staple to consistency within the business and dedication to their customers.

Nora Heath, 61, and Steve Heath, 52, of Chenango, worked together in a diner for several years before deciding to start one of their own.

Steve explained that he "wanted more," than simply being a cook under someone else's direction. He wanted to work for himself, and Nora soon followed.

The building, located at 52 Clinton St. in Binghamton, was an existing diner before the Heaths took over in July 1997, and back then, the Heaths recalled, Clinton Street was booming. Over the years, the amount of successful businesses and overall traffic within the area slowly dwindled.

How Clinton Street has changed through the years

Many businesses have opened and closed on Clinton Street over the years, and the Heaths say as businesses have given up, the area as a whole has been generally forgotten.

That may soon be changing. Several businesses have recently opened on Clinton Street, including Parlor City Vegan, Café Liuga Haus and The Shoppes at 85 Clinton, bringing business back to the area.

The City of Binghamton was also awarded $10 million as an eighth-round pick through the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative, and will use the funding to transform Clinton Street.

The Heaths say they have had to overcome many obstacles throughout their 27 years on Clinton Street, including doubts from their peers, working multiple jobs to keep the business running when it first opened, trying to navigate the industry through the COVID-19 pandemic, and even a car driving through the front of the restaurant in 2011.

More: Binghamton awarded $10 million in DRI funding: What's planned on Clinton Street

Binghamton diner owners 'count our blessings every day'

Despite all of this, the two have been able to run a successful diner and build meaningful friendships along the way, which they say is their favorite part of it all.

"My favorite thing is the people that I've met over the years," Steve Heath said. "I made a lot of good friends here."

Nora Heath agreed, but added that another important lesson that she has learned is that "it teaches you a lot about yourself."

The Heaths continue to learn and grow every day, to ensure they keep customers and their business continues to evolve.

"When you go into anything thinking you've got it all figured out, you're going to fail," Nora Heath said. "I don't think there is ever a time in life where you can't learn something. I don't think you can ever stop learning or growing. That is what will keep you going."

The diner owners see new faces every day, along with regulars who have been turning up since the Heaths took over, from all walks of life, and the owners emphasized their appreciation of of every single one of them.

"We're very thankful for the people that have supported us for the last 27 years," said Nora Heath. "We're more than thankful. We wouldn't be here without them."

"We count our blessings every day," Steve Heath added.

Clinton Street Café is located at 52 Clinton St. in Binghamton and is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Saturday. The restaurant will close from March 17 to April 3 for vacation.

This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Clinton Street Cafe thrives on consistency amid changing landscape