A total of 31 years have passed since Lena Riberdy's first summer working at Country Drive-In.

“I worked a lot of hours, washed a lot of dishes, and cleaned a lot of picnic tables,” Riberdy recalled on Wednesday. “The people are great, the customers were great, I have just loved it ever since I started.”

After beginning at the Halfmoon roadside eatery and ice cream parlor as a teenager, she became part-owner 12 years ago.

“This place means a lot to me, I give it my heart and soul," she said.

"She's kind of helped raise me,” said Assistant Manager Zack Hansen, who began working at Country Drive-In 12 years ago. “I've been here since I was 14 years old, it was the first job I ever had and I'm still here today."

Hansen was among those helping Riberdy prepare for Wednesday's opening day. It marks the 50th summer for the Crescent Road business.

"It says a lot. [Many] businesses do not even last three years," Hansen said.

Driving down from Saratoga, Jon Diesem was first in line to get his hot dogs.

“They’re great,” Diesem said. “They are the best in the area and I am a hot dog connoisseur.”

Waterford's Joe Cerroni and Ernie Bariteau were right behind him.

“We’ve just been waiting for it to open up for the summer,” Bariteau said. “We watched the sign as we drove by; ‘seven days, six days, three days, two days,’ you know. Now it’s opening day."

At some point this summer Riberdy plans to celebrate the anniversary.

"We are really going to do it up this year,” Riberdy said. “We are going to have a party later in the season and give back to our community and our customers. Ten years into it I knew I was never leaving. That's how much I loved it, I love it here."