Cal-Harbor Restaurant In Pullman Reopens For Curbside Pickup

PULLMAN — Cal-Harbor Restaurant owner Robbie Kuntz reopened Pullman's favorite (and only) greasy spoon this week to serve up comfort food for curbside pickup.

"It was pretty rough being closed," Kuntz said. "But we're back, and it's good to be home."

Since firing up the griddle Sunday, business has been "medium," Kuntz said.

Loyal regulars have resumed ordering breakfast favorites, giant omelettes and fluffy pancakes.

"We're not slow. We're not busy, but it's steady, enough to keep us afloat right now," Kuntz said. "This place has been here for 45 years. I'm just fighting to keep it here for another 45."

During the coronavirus pandemic shutdown "The Harbor," as locals know the place, got a deep cleaning before Sunday's restart.

"We even took the ceiling tiles down and scrubbed them," said longtime waitress, and Kuntz's mother-in-law, Donna Tritsarolis.

"We did everything because this virus is scaring the heck out of everybody, and we want to make sure that customers will be OK when it's time to come back. You don't know who's got it and who doesn't."

Kuntz said he's not in a rush to reopen the dining room even when restrictions are lifted.

"If they allow us to open up, I'm going to still be curbside. My wife's pregnant, and we're about to have a kid in the next couple weeks. I'm definitely trying to avoid contact with people," he said. "I've been wanting this for a long time. I'm turning 40, and I'm excited regardless of what's going on out here."

Cal-Harbor, 546 E. 115th St., takes telephone orders from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday to Monday.