9 & 40 Diner now open | Food made from scratch and old-time feel

The 9 & 40 Diner officially opened its doors early Monday morning to breakfast items and baked goods made from scratch.
The diner is aptly named the 9&40; it is at the junction of Highway 9 and Highway 40 next to Kum & Go in Kremmling.

The owners, Sandy and Kenny Duncan have forged unique relationships over the last 12 years they have spent in Kremmling. Sandy has served as cook at several restaurants in town and worked in the kitchen at Cliffview Assisted Center while Kenny has worked in construction and asphalt.

Sandy hopes to fill the niche of a local favorite and created items on her menu with specific people in mind. Her tomato basil soup, fried chicken, breakfast tacos, spinach/artichoke dip, and eggs benedict with crab, have already proven to be locals favorites.

Kenny who plans to join the Diner full-time at the end of the year, says of Sandy’s dream to have her own restaurant, “I am happy that others will get to eat her cooking. I have been spoiled as her husband.”

The dream of owning and operating the restaurant was also made possible by Bob and Sharyn Overholt, former proprietors of SLO’s Restaurant and the current owners of the building, who wanted to see their building in use. In their travels, they found a business model that could be adapted to fit the current set-up in the building.

Customers order at the counter, receive a number and fetch their own coffee. When the order is complete, wait staff brings the order to the customers.

“I just want to bring back the old times,” said Sandy whose vision is reminiscent of a 50’s diner.

Her menu is based on old-fashioned favorites that bring to mind her home state of Iowa. One of the staples of the menu will be her pork tenderloin sandwich.

After sampling the tenderloin pork sandwich, Bob predicted area ranchers would be smitten with the pork sandwich and begin raising pigs instead of beef.

“We are happy as a lark. This is a great adventure,” he said.
Sharyn said, “We are just so happy to have good people in here. Sandy is going to do great. They are going to provide good service, and the food is going to be delightful.”

Joining the wait staff will be Sheri O’Hotto, Deanna Aylor and Gina Schroeder who have all worked with Sandy previously. “I am excited to bring such an experienced staff.”

“We have become like a family,” said Sheri. “I feel so blessed to be part of this journey.”  The 9 & 40 Diner is open at 5 a.m. to2 p.m. daily, but as if from a bygone era, Sandy says, “We plan to have coffee and burritos ready at 4:30 a.m. for anyone leaving early for work or getting ready to hunt”