By Judith Kristen, AAP Columnist

It was 1964. A gallon of gas cost 28 cents, The Beatles were the hottest band on the planet, and The Penn Queen Diner opened its doors for the very first time.

Yes, this month, on November 16, 2014, that famous landmark at Rt. 130 and Westfield Ave. celebrates its golden anniversary!

Fifty years ago, the diner was a family-run establishment and it remains so to this very day. Owned by Zane Katsikis; his sons, Nicholas and Thomas Katsikis; and son-in-law, Manny Konstantinides, the Penn Queen Diner is run in a royal fashion, worthy of its name. Patriarch Zane Katsikis was originally a chef; he is now also a savvy businessman, with an eye on the diner’s longevity and creating a steady flow of happy customers. So far, his formula has worked.

Diner patron Andie Friedman travels past four other diners from her home in Mt. Laurel en route to Penn Queen twice a week. Her favorite? The lox and onion omelet, crispy home fries, rye toast, apple juice, and two cups of coffee. “I absolutely love the food, the waitresses are the best ever, and the atmosphere is happy and unrushed. If I lived 30 miles away, I’d still come here.”

Another draw is the fresh produce that arrives daily, like the delicious locally grown blueberries in season, and our own famous Jersey tomatoes, that find their way into all sorts of salads and mouth-watering recipes. Baking is also done right there on the premises, and is fresh daily.

Local patron Bobbie Bechtel’s hands down favorite dessert is the Penn Queen’s cherry cheesecake. Bobbie’s friend, Eve Edwards, is partial to the house classic, the Jewish apple cake.

Rave reviews also come from the bar area, where the raspberry daiquiri is a huge diner favorite.

Besides the food and good management, I think everyone would agree that a strong element for return customers is the waitresses. “It shows when a waitress enjoys her work,” says long time customer Dave Shackley of Collingswood. “These are the nicest and most helpful waitresses I have ever known.”

And the kudos are more than mutual. Three of Penn Queen’s waitresses share 83 years of work between them. Penny Risley-McGinn and Linda Sipe each have worked at “The Queen” for 30 years. Next in line is Diane Knoell, with 23 years at the diner.

All three agree that their bosses are wonderful to work for. It’s also easy to recommend good food, and the customers always make their day worthwhile. And for the record, Penny and Diane’s house favorite is the chicken parmesan, while Linda’s is the broiled flounder.

These women love their work and it shows. Everywhere you look when you’re inside the Penn Queen Diner, you’ll find so many reasons to see why they’ve been so successful over the last five decades: from owners, to wait staff, hostesses, cashiers, kitchen help, even the people who maintain the outside lawn area; it’s a team effort, and there’s mutual pride and respect for their work. And that’s the formula for success.

Again, congratulations, Penn Queen, and may you enjoy another fifty, happy, flourishing, and successful years! Pennsauken salutes you!

Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s piece of lemon meringue pie over at the Penn Queen Diner with my name written all over it.