ALTUS – Sharon Switzer wouldn’t know what to do if she didn’t own the Sunrise Café, a job she has held since 1997.
But Switzer is more than a back-office owner. On any given day, she works the cash register, waits on customers and is the chief cook and bottle washer. Despite the long hours and the enormous sweat and toil, she loves every minute of it.
“I never dread being here,” she said. “I never wake up and hate going to work. I love the girls (employees) and our customers.”
The relationship between waitresses and customers often is filled with humor and ESP, especially when waitresses know what customers want before looking at a menu.
“Sometimes, my girls will ask if they want their regular order. We know what a lot of them want,” Switzer said. “They’re hard-working people: doctors, lawyers, nurses, carpenters — everybody from the dog catcher to the mayor and sometimes they’re sitting at the same table.”
Switzer has worked in the restaurant industry the past 45 years, starting at 12 years old washing dishes. She jumped to waiting tables at 14 and started cooking at 15.
“I like to cook and enjoy seeing people get a good meal and leaving full and satisfied. I like people and it’s (cooking) a way to make a person’s day a little better,” she said. “My philosophy is to provide a clean place, friendly staff, good food at fair prices.”
Switzer’s fondness for cooking started when she watched her mother in the kitchen at age 4.
“I grew up around good cooks,” she said. “There’s a photo of me rolling pie dough when I was 4. I was my mom’s girl and my dad’s boy. Growing up on a farm as an only child, everything he would have taught a son he taught me.”
The diner’s success has come because of faithful customers and loyal employees.
“I’ve seen some of the little kids who came in here with their parents become parents themselves and there’s been little kids who grew into teenagers and came to work for me,” Switzer said.
Switzer’s own children – ages 10, 11 and 12 when the diner opened – have worked for her in the restaurant. She also has one grandson who currently works at the diner.
But it’s the long-term employees who keep the diner moving forward.
“I’ve kept the same staff for a long time,” Switzer said. “I’ve had one girl for 13 years, another one for 12 years and two others for 11 years. Every one of them can multitask. I’ve been lucky to keep employees that long. I can’t remember the last time I had to hire someone off the streets. Usually, if I have an opening, I always get a recommendation from a customer or another employee.”
A few employees were forced to quit when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, but Switzer made sure they received their unemployment benefits. Prior to COVID, the café had started a delivery service, which fell in line with business adjustments during the pandemic.
“We also installed dividers between the tables, and when they came down this year the customers were so happy,” Switzer said.
Switzer’s ability to keep the diner open comes from a lifetime of experience. She owned a restaurant in Konawa, another in Chickasha and two more in Florida. Switzer actually opened the Sunrise Diner with her then-husband in 1997, but later became the sole owner.
When it comes to the diner’s menu, Switzer makes it clear nothing is written in stone.
“Sometimes, we have customers who make requests for me to make a special dish and if I have the ingredients, I’ll cook it. For example, if a customer wants pancakes and green beans then we’ll make pancakes and green beans,” she said. “I can make 50 different types of soups and some Mexican, Italian and Oriental dishes plus what we already have on the menu.”
The diner’s menu offers breakfast and lunch items that include omelets, pancakes, burgers, dinner entrées, sandwiches and salads. The diner, located at 811 E. Broadway, is open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Switzer decided to close the diner on weekends because of family concerns and the desire to spend time with her grandchildren.
“At one time, we were open six days a week with a Saturday breakfast, but my grandkids are an important part of life,” she said. “We’re going to keep doing what we do and make people happy.”
For a complete menu, visit the Facebook page @AltusSunrise Café or call (580) 482-8500 to place to-go and delivery orders.