The menu has changed, but Oakley’s Buzz Inn maintains the charm that customers have come to love. After being closed for nearly two years, Buzz Inn is back with a fresh coat of paint, new dining booths, shiny floor tiles and a new owner.

Natalie Salameh, who owns Buzz Inn along with her father Shouki, always dreamed of owning her own restaurant, and the Buzz Inn seemed like the right fit for her to make those dreams come true.

“I love to cook, so I went to culinary school so that I could learn as much as possible, and while I’ve worked for some wonderful people, I always wanted a place to call my own,” Salameh said. “When I found this place, it just felt right. I kept the name since Buzz Inn has such a history and everyone knows what you’re talking about as soon as you say Buzz Inn. It has a history as a family-style restaurant, and that’s exactly what I want.

“A lot customers have memories of this place, and now I hope they’ll bring in their families and create new memories.”

As the youngest of nine daughters, Salameh highly values family and designed a menu with something for everyone to enjoy so that families can come for a night out no matter their mood. Salameh was so excited about writing her own menu that her offerings currently span six pages, but as she learns what people like and don’t like, the menu will be refined and trimmed.

“I know six pages is a little long, but I just got so excited,” Salameh said. “Food is my passion, and I’m so anxious to serve people. I just started writing out the menu and suddenly I had six pages. I’m offering specials to see what people like – to see what sells – and then I’ll go from there. It’s all a learning experience.”

No matter what you’re hungry for, there’s something on the menu for you at Buzz Inn. The breakfast offerings are available all day, so if you crave omelets or French toast during the dinner hour – just say the word. The lunch menu offers an array of sandwiches, from the jumbo deluxe burger to the tuna melt to the Philly cheese steak sandwich, and dinner includes items such as spaghetti, meatloaf and grilled teriyaki chicken breast.

Buzz Inn, which reopened in October, features several specials throughout the week – turkey on Thursday (in honor of Thanksgiving), barbecue Wednesday and seafood Friday. Salameh offers a soup of the day, which she makes fresh every morning. “Soup is one of my favorite things to make because you just throw stuff in the pot and see what works. I love to create new recipes and I’m always looking for feedback.”

She also roams the dining room for customer input. “I like to talk with the customers to find out if everything was the way they like it, and if not, what can I do different. I love learning about new styles and techniques. I always appreciate constructive criticism.”

Salameh’s passion for pastries inspires her to bake her own desserts daily, for which she uses her own recipes, developed over the years. She credits her enthusiasm for cooking to her father, who owned a diner and has more than 45 years experience in the restaurant business.

“He’s my rock,” Salameh said. “He’s taught me a lot, and when I said I wanted to own my own restaurant he said, ‘Let’s do it.’ His support means so much to me, and I’m really excited to finally be open. Oakley has been very welcoming and I hope to be here for many years to come.”

Buzz Inn, located at 3899 Main St., is open 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday and Monday; 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call 925-625-0234.