A Port Charlotte diner is temporarily shut down after a teenage driver accidentally rammed into the restaurant Thursday night. Sweet's Diner is located at 2300 Tamiami Trail.
The owner told NBC2 that a 16-year-old girl was learning how to drive with her mother in the car when she accidentally put the SUV in drive and accelerated into the corner unit.
"It looks like once she hit the wall and broke through the glass, she got nervous and she pressed the gas down even more and smashed through the whole dining room. Hit the wall where the kitchen starts, pushed all the equipment down," Scott Sweet said.
Sweet opened the diner 17 years ago. It was a dream that turned reality when his grandparents said, "We got the money for you. We believe in you."
Despite economic recessions, hurricanes and the coronavirus pandemic, Sweet said he's never shut down for more than a day or two. This accident will likely have him closed for a few weeks, at least.
"It's sad that all my employees are without a job now, and, you know, to me, things happen, and they happen for a reason. God has a plan, and I'm not worried about it," Sweet said. "I'm just hoping that we can get it all taken care of as soon as possible. So that I can, you know, get my employees working again."
"I'm going to miss it," Mark Rosen said.
Rosen has been visiting Sweet's Diner since he moved to Charlotte County over a decade ago. He visits at least once a week, or every other week.
"Scott is a hell of a host. He does great breakfast. His pile high is world famous," Rosen said. "It's like the neighborhood spot. Say hello to everybody, you know, and everybody's here. You. You know, you could spend hours here just talking to people. I was [just] thankful there was nobody inside."