Business News

Family and friends join Mike Ozkum (second from left) and Star Ozkum (third from left) last Wednesday during the grand opening of Star’s Family Restaurant at the Shady Nook shopping plaza.

Mike Ozkum finally has the restaurant that he wanted.

                After taking over as the owner of Café 633 about four months ago, Ozkum felt the place had potential to be more than it was.

                “Calling it a café just didn’t mean as much to me,” said Ozkum.  I wanted to make it something a little bigger and better.”

                The result:  Star’s Family Restaurant, which opened in the Shady Nook shopping plaza last Wednesday.  And it’s not just the name that has changed.

                Star’s offers a much larger menu than Café 663’s, which was only open for breakfast and lunch.  The new establishment offers a full selection of dinner options, including steaks, Italian dishes, and a wide selection of seafood. 

                “It’s a complete dinner menu, and we make everything to order,” said Ozkum.

While the menu has been expanded considerably, many old favorites have been carried over, including the omelets, while new touches, such as the oven-baked “rustic” sandwiches, are now available, said Ozkum.

Also unlike Café 663, the new restaurant will be open for business on Mondays, and judging by the number of customers at Star’s on Monday morning for breakfast, word has traveled quickly.  The first week has exceeded expectations for Star’s, and Ozkum estimated that his business has tripled from an average week at Café 663.

                Ozkum has more than a decade of experience in the food industry.  He previously operated the Patty Jean Diner on Main Street in Norristown, but left that location after a conflict with the owner of the property over lease terms.  He relocated to Pennsburg during the summer and took over Café 663.

                Star’s Restaurant is actually named for Ozkum’s wife, Star, who helps with the operation of the restaurant.  Their daughter, Rose, is also counted among the restaurant’s approximately 20 employees, making it a true family-run establishment.

The restaurant itself is laid out and decorated to be spacious without being overstated.  The large dining area is larger than it appears from the exterior, but it is divided length-wise by a partition that creates a more intimate feel.  The atmosphere inside is relaxed, with the only decorations being, fittingly, a few stars hanging from the ceiling by strings.  Several dozen patrons can be accommodated at once, and the fully staffed, 500 square foot kitchen at the back end of the restaurant provides service in a timely manner.

Patrons leaving Star’s on Monday morning, like Amy Csizi and Dee Hellerman, both from Pennsburg, were impressed by the food and the price.

“It was really good, and you can’t beat 3.99 for a breakfast like that,” said Hellerman, referring to one of Star’s signature specials, which include inexpensive dining options for all three meals.

Of course, the key for any new restaurant is to keep bringing people back over and over again.

“As long as they keep making those good omelets, I’ll keep coming back,” said Judy Bairstow after enjoying a meal with her husband, Stephen, on Monday morning.