Ever sat in your favorite restaurant and thought, “Wouldn’t it be something to run a place like this?” Most of us let the thought drift away with the check.
Vincent Prymus didn’t.
Twelve years ago, Vincent was just another customer at Wade’s Cafe in Colorado Springs. Today, he’s the owner. Here’s how a passing comment over breakfast turned into a life’s work.
It Started With a Question to His Wife
Wade’s has been part of Colorado Springs since 1953. It’s the kind of diner people return to for generations, and Vincent was one of them. He came for the food and kept coming back because the place simply felt good.
“I will never forget saying to my wife when I was just a customer, ‘Can you imagine owning a place like Wade’s?'” he remembers.
Back then, it was a daydream. Today, he’s the one welcoming guests through the door.
A Queens Kid Who Learned From the Ground Up
Vincent grew up in Queens, New York, and his first job was as a busser at an Italian restaurant called Fra Diavolo. It’s not a glamorous start, but clearing tables teaches you how a restaurant really works: the pace, the teamwork, and the small touches that make guests feel looked after.
You can still see that in how Wade’s runs today. It’s a place where the details matter.
Why He’s Stayed for 12 Years
Ask Vincent what keeps him here, and the answers are refreshingly simple:
- The hours fit family life. Wade’s serves breakfast and lunch and closes at 2 PM, which leaves the evenings free for the people he loves.
- The atmosphere is family-friendly. Kids are welcome here, and there’s even a kids’ menu with small portions of pancakes and scrambled eggs.
- His work family. When we asked what he’s most thankful for, he didn’t say the business. He said his employees.
That last one says a lot. A diner is only as good as the people behind the counter, and Vincent knows it.
One Word for Wade’s: “Home”
We asked Vincent to describe Wade’s in a single word. He didn’t hesitate: “Home.”
It fits. Picture a plate of chicken fried steak, his favorite thing on the menu, landing in front of you while a friendly face tops off your coffee. Outside the restaurant, his idea of a great day is much the same: good food with family, or a camping trip when he needs to unplug.
Meet Baby Jane, Wade’s Littlest Fan
Every diner has a customer who steals the show. At Wade’s, it’s Baby Jane.
She’s a little over a year old, and Vincent calls her his biggest supporter and the biggest fan of his food. She’s happy, social, and a favorite with the whole staff. It’s a small story, but it explains a lot about why guests here feel like more than customers.
Vincent’s Advice: Keep It Simple
We asked Vincent what advice he’d give the younger generation. His answer was short and practical:
- Don’t skip breakfast. Fitting advice from a man who serves it every day. If you need a place to start, Wade’s breakfast menu has fluffy pancakes, hearty omelets, and plenty more.
- Experience life, don’t just solve it. His favorite quote comes from the philosopher Kierkegaard: “Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.”
What Vincent’s Story Teaches Us
It would be easy to read this as a story about a man who bought a restaurant. It’s really about something bigger. Vincent noticed what he loved, said it out loud, and stayed close to it for twelve years. He went from the booth to the front of the house, and he never lost sight of what made Wade’s special in the first place: good food, a warm welcome, and a team that feels like family.
Come Sit Down at Wade’s
Some dreams begin as a passing comment at the dinner table. Vincent’s turned into a diner that Colorado Springs has loved for generations.
Stop by, order the chicken fried steak, and see why a customer became an owner and never wanted to leave.
📍 Wade’s Cafe, 3504 N Academy Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80917
🕕 Open 7 days a week, 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM
📞 (719) 596-8122