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After 4 decades, Bette’s Oceanview Diner in Berkeley closes

2 mins read

Bette’s Oceanview Diner on Berkeley’s Fourth Street bids goodbye for good after serving for about 40 years, Berkeleyside first reported, and also appeared on SFGATE.

The establishment was famous for its long brunch lines, pancakes, as well as its 1957 jukebox since its opening in 1982. The institution was managed by an influential figure in the Bay Area food industry, Bette Kroeing. When she died in 2017, her husband Manfred Kroeing ran the place.

In a talk to East Bay Times, Manfred said: “Obviously, I’ve been thinking about retirement since my wife died (in 2017).”

“I also tried all kinds of avenues in the beginning to keep (Bette’s) open,” he added.

While it was closed for three months at the onset of the pandemic, Bette’s remained open under Mandfred’s supervision. The diner, however, met operational challenges in recent months like staffing concerns. The lease of the place comes this summer, East Bay Times reported, and Manfred decided to retire.

He finally announced the news to his workers on Monday.

The restaurant is about to reach its 40th year anniversary this April.

“I hope that soon, there will be a new generation of young people who will take over the space and make it something cool again,” Manfred told Berkeleyside. “Maybe they can scrape off the ‘Bette’s’ and just call it Oceanview Diner. Would anyone even know the difference?”

SFGATE contacted the diner for comment but it did not return the request immediately.

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