About us

More Than a Restaurant

As World War II swept across the world, the little shop became something greater than anyone could have imagined. Servicemen traveling through town found a warm meal waiting for them, often without charge. Papou, himself a World War I veteran, kept the business alive while his sons fought overseas. Though no longer on the battlefield, he continued to serve in the only way he could—through hard work, food, and generosity.

The soldiers who passed through began referring to the restaurant as “the hole in the wall.” What started as a simple nickname spoken with gratitude became part of the family’s identity.

When the war ended, Nicholas Dovolos returned home and stepped behind the counter beside his father, continuing what sacrifice and perseverance had built. Years later, history repeated itself when George Dovolos came home from Vietnam and returned to the kitchen, carrying the family legacy into another generation.

A Legacy Built Through Generations

For decades, George Dovolos and his wife Cheryl carried the business forward. Through changing times, difficult seasons, and long days, they held firmly to the values that defined the family: consistency, resilience, and taking care of people.

The Dovolos family never believed they were simply serving food. They believed they were building something dependable—something people could count on.

Losing the Dream… Finding the Path

That legacy shaped my entire life. I grew up believing I would one day become a fourth-generation restaurant owner and continue what my family had built.

But when my parents sold The Hole in the Wall, it felt like that dream disappeared overnight.

What I didn’t understand at the time was that God already had another path prepared for me.

In June of 2008, at fifteen years old, I got my first job as a dishwasher at Brian’s USA Diner.

Brian and Rachel Heywood had built something remarkable from the ground up. Through risk, sacrifice, and relentless work, they created a restaurant known not only for its food, but for the people behind it. Brian became more than an owner to me—he became a mentor. He taught me what leadership looked like, what discipline required, and what it truly meant to earn your place.

I started where everyone should start: at the bottom. Washing dishes. Watching closely. Learning the rhythm of the kitchen and the heartbeat of the business. And somewhere along the way, the foundation my family had poured into me began to return.

Over the next eleven years, I worked side by side with Brian, learning how to cook, lead, and navigate the realities of owning a restaurant—often before I even realized those lessons were shaping me.

In 2019, I purchased Brian’s USA Diner.

When the opportunity came, I chose to keep the name. Not out of convenience, but out of respect. Without Brian’s guidance and belief in me, I would not be the man—or the cook—I am today.

The day we signed the papers, I joked with him and said, “I hope everything goes wrong this year.” That’s how I’ve always learned: through pressure, adversity, and experience.

I had no idea what was coming.

At twenty-six years old, during my very first year of ownership, the world shut down with COVID-19. There was no roadmap. No certainty. No guarantee we would survive.

But deep down, I knew something: if I could make it through that season, I could make it through anything.

And by the grace of God, we did.

Without loans. Without outside help. Through long days, hard decisions, exhaustion, and an unwavering belief in what we were building, we kept pushing forward. Not only did we survive—we emerged stronger, even managing to turn a profit in the middle of uncertainty.

What We Stand For

Today, at Brian’s USA Diner, we continue to grow and adapt with the world around us. But the values at the center of this place remain unchanged.

We believe in hard work.

We believe in taking care of people.

And we believe that anything is possible.

Because for me, this has never been about the business.

It is the continuation of something far bigger than ourselves—a tradition built on faith, resilience, sacrifice, and the people who walk through our doors every single day.