Downtown Elk City could have a new place for all-day breakfast by Christmas. Boomerang Diner is targeting an opening around the holiday at 102 North Main Street, the building long known locally as the Snips Building, with renovation work now moving ahead after months of staffing struggles.
The update came during the Elk City Commission's regular Monday night meeting, where Damon Culver gave commissioners a rundown on renovations at the future diner location, according to thepennynews.com. Per that report, the project had slowed while Boomerang focused on hiring employees and securing management, a process that held up physical work on the building even as the company worked toward opening its doors.
That hiring push appears to have paid off. The outlet reports Boomerang has now lined up much of its staff, including a general manager, which has allowed work on the building itself to move forward after the earlier delay.
Subcontractor Shortage Still a Hurdle
Even with staffing largely settled, the project has run into difficulty securing subcontractors, the same report notes. Elk City Mayor Micah Kilhoffer described subcontractor shortages as common across western Oklahoma, framing the issue as a regional challenge rather than one unique to this particular build.
Despite that obstacle, the mayor's tone was upbeat. Kilhoffer expressed optimism about the restaurant's progress and what it will add to downtown Elk City, according to the same account from the commission meeting.
Still, nobody is promising presents under the tree by a specific date. The anticipated Christmas opening is Boomerang's own estimate and not a guaranteed completion date, the report emphasizes, leaving some wiggle room if subcontractor delays persist.
What's on the Menu
Once it opens, Boomerang Diner will offer a traditional diner-style menu, including all-day breakfast, bringing that option to downtown Elk City for the first time under this brand. The broader Boomerang Diner chain has been a fixture since 1992, when it was founded by Charles Degraeffenreid in Muskogee, Oklahoma, according to kiowacasino.com. That same source describes the chain's offerings as centered on famous burgers, crispy chicken-fried steak, and all-day breakfast, the kind of straightforward comfort food the brand has built its reputation on.
The Elk City location would mark another expansion point for the growing chain, which has also announced plans to open inside the Elk Creek Kiowa Casino in Hobart, Oklahoma, with a summer 2025 target according to the casino's own announcement. For now, downtown Elk City residents will have to watch the Snips Building renovations and wait to see whether the holiday timeline holds.
