PRICE HILL, CINCINNATI – In a city that treats its neighborhood diners like sacred ground, few places hold as much history per square inch as Vera’s Cozy Kitchen. This past Tuesday, the air on Glenway Avenue smelled a little extra sweet (and savory) as the neighborhood icon celebrated exactly 50 years of serving the West Side.
Since 1976, Vera’s has been the unofficial town hall of Price Hill. It’s where generations of Elder and Seton students have grabbed a post-game bite, and where local retirees have solved the world’s problems over endless refills of black coffee.
A Step Back in Time
To celebrate the Golden Anniversary, Vera herself decided to take the menu back to where it all started. For the first 50 customers through the door, the prices were rolled back to 1974 rates.
- A slice of homemade pie: 75 cents.
- The “Price Hill Special” Breakfast: $1.50.
- Coffee: 20 cents (with a smile included).
“I remember walking in here with my father when I was six,” said Mike Donnellon, a local contractor who was first in line at 5:30 AM. “Now I bring my grandkids. The wallpaper has changed once or twice, but the way Vera asks how your mom is doing? That hasn’t changed in fifty years.”
The Secret Ingredient: Community
The diner was founded by Vera and her late husband, Arthur, who believed that a good meal was just a vehicle for a good conversation. Today, the walls are a living scrapbook, covered in faded polaroids of local baseball teams, wedding announcements, and “Employee of the Month” photos that include almost every neighborhood teenager over the last five decades.
“Cincinnati is a big city, but the West Side is a village,” Vera said, taking a rare moment to lean against the counter. “I’ve seen first dates turn into golden anniversaries at these booths. I’ve seen babies in high chairs grow up to be the police officers and teachers looking after us now. It’s not about the eggs or the chili—it’s about the people who eat them.”
Looking Forward
As the morning rush subsided, a surprise awaited the guest of honor. A group of local business owners presented Vera with a commemorative plaque, officially naming the corner booth “Vera’s Sanctuary.”
While many small businesses struggled through the digital age, Vera’s has thrived by staying exactly the same. There are no QR code menus here—just laminated sheets and a handwritten daily special board.
“We’re not fancy,” Vera laughed. “But we’re home.”
Barry Mandilo
Cincinnati Good News 
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