Walter Wolff says he's ready for retirement after 45 years of owning and operating the Fresgo Inn diner in Whalley.
His final day on the job was Friday (March 14), when new owner Sanjay Bajaj gave him a watch, flowers and a cake to celebrate the 81-year-old Wolff, who lives in North Vancouver.
"I feel fantastic," he said before the restaurant opened for breakfast. "Too many good memories, no bad memories. The people were fantastic, everybody was fantastic."
Bajaj, who runs a chain of Ustaad G76 restaurants in B.C., promises to keep Fresgo Inn focused on serving comfort food the way Wolff has for more than four decades.
VIDEO: Walter’s final-day thoughts at Fresgo Inn, the Whalley diner he ran for 45 years.
— Tom Zillich (@TomZillich) March 14, 2025
His retirement officially starts today with Sanjay Bajaj taking over the landmark restaurant, known for comfort food.
STORY: https://t.co/t8FZvD7V4c via @surreynowleader pic.twitter.com/clyuwAyDCd
The leased restaurant space is in a corner unit of a strip mall on King George Boulevard, across from Central City Shopping Centre.
Back in 1980, the mall was known as Surrey Place, King George was a highway, and Wolff was doing business at two Fresgo Inn restaurants, one in Whalley and another at an older location in the West End of Vancouver (since closed).
"My story here is coming to an end now, but there's a new story starting with the new owners," Wolff told the Now-Leader on March 4.
Final-day farewell to Walter Wolff at Fresgo Inn after 45 years of running the Surrey diner.
— Tom Zillich (@TomZillich) March 14, 2025
New owner Sanjay Bajaj gave him a nice watch, flowers and cake, with key staff members there to say goodbye.
STORY: https://t.co/t8FZvD7V4c via @surreynowleader pic.twitter.com/yr7cSO6ccH
