Customers looking for a bite to eat at the Rock Hill Diner were met with a sad surprise on Tuesday. The favorite local food spot was closed because of a fire on New Year's Day.

"It's actually kind of heartbreaking and really sad," said frequent diner customer Shelby Boswell. "And kind of disappointing."

Boswell stopped for potato pancakes before heading out to Pennsylvania. But she and other residents will have to wait a while before they enjoy their next meal at the diner. Owner Steven Moss said he had just closed for the day when he was called back because of the blaze. 

"We were hoping it wasn't anything, but it was a little something," said Moss in front of his establishment on Tuesday.  

Monday evening, a fire broke out and damaged the kitchen, roof and ceiling in the back of the restaurant. The Rock Hill Fire Department fought the fire, assisted by other fire companies in the area. Moss says their quick work saved the resturant. 

"Rock Hill really did a good job with the fire," said Moss, who has owned the diner for 28 years. "Otherwise it would have been over. But they really contained it to a small part of the building."

Moss and his son, Jason, were on site Tuesday to observe the damage during what normally would have been the start of lunch. 

"We only close one day out of the year," Jason said, "so, obviously you see a lot of people stopping by. It's a little odd." 

The food spot is a favorite among the people in Rock Hill and others around the area.

Monticello's Nicholas Collins does snow removal for the diner and says the impact of its temporary closure will be felt by many. 

"It's gonna be rough, you know?" he said. "There's nothing around here to eat. You're gonna have to go to the Monticello area."

But the elder Moss says not to worry -- they'll be doing everything they can to get the diner back up and running. 

"It's the only diner, and it's the only place, really, in the morning that people have," Moss said. "That's why we have to get it open soon."