Bill Kirios, the owner of Schoolfield Lunch, a nearly 100-year-old icon in the Schoolfield mill neighborhood, counts the till at one of the registers on the final day of business for the lunch counter on Friday, Jan. 29.
This photo story was one of the last I did in Danville, and is still one of the most meaningful. Bill is a true character, ingratiating himself to all the ladies and providing a listening ear and strong opinion for all the men, and home cooked plates for everyone. The diner finally closed in January of 2010, much to the dismay of the handful of regulars in town who continued to have lunch with Bill long after the Schoolfield mill closed and took with it hundreds of customers.
This photo story was one of the last I did in Danville, and is still one of the most meaningful. Bill is a true character, ingratiating himself to all the ladies and providing a listening ear and strong opinion for all the men, and home cooked plates for everyone. The diner finally closed in January of 2010, much to the dismay of the handful of regulars in town who continued to have lunch with Bill long after the Schoolfield mill closed and took with it hundreds of customers.
Bill Kirios, the owner of Schoolfield Lunch, a nearly 100-year-old icon in the Schoolfield mill neighborhood, buses one of the counters on the final day of business for the restaurant.
The Kirios family has owned and operated the diner for most of the 20th century, during which the peak of Danville came and went, but customers remained loyal to the end.
A lunch menu with updated prices is wedged between the cracked keys of a cash register behind the counter.
Surrounded by sweet tea urns and still stocked shelves, Bill pauses for a moment.
One of the final customers to ever visit Schoolfield Lunch exits through the front door.
Bill tears up after removing his glasses as he finally takes a seat at his own lunch counter.
