A hungry and coffee-craving crowd stretched down Circuit avenue early Tuesday morning anxiously awaiting the reopening of Linda Jean’s Restaurant. The popular Oak Bluffs diner, which had been closed since mid-December, celebrated its open doors with a ribbon cutting and gracious speech from new owners Lisa and Winston Christie.

“We have delicious food guys. Come in,” said Mr. Christie.

The crowd obeyed and only moments later nearly every seat was filled.

The Christies are familiar faces in the Oak Bluffs food scene. They also own Winston’s Kitchen, a homestyle take-out restaurant just a few blocks from Linda Jean’s. When original Linda Jean’s owner Marc Hanover retired and offered them the business late last year, they couldn’t help but accept.

“Everything happens for a reason,” said Ms. Christie. “Marc and Winston already had a great relationship since we’d been renting the [Linda Jean’s] kitchen since last June for Winston’s Kitchen. It just sort of made sense.”

Diners pack the tables for the reopening of Linda Jean's Tuesday.

Ray Ewing

Diners pack the tables for the reopening of Linda Jean's Tuesday.

Ray Ewing

Mr. Hanover owned and operated Linda Jean’s for nearly half a century and played a big role in its reopening process. He worked with the Christies for three months to prepare the business for its new chapter before relocating off-Island.

Despite its new ownership, the restaurant remains mostly the same.

It will be open year-round, seven days a week, offering both dine-in and take-out options. It serves large portions of breakfast, lunch and dinner from a menu that resembles the original with some added Winston’s Kitchen style. Many of the members of the 19-person staff can be recognized from past years, too.

Samantha Fountain has worked at Linda Jean’s since 2010 and was beaming at the sight of a full diner as she helped staff newbie Sarah Coleman place orders.

“It’s these gentlemen right here,” Ms. Fountain said to Ms. Coleman, as she motioned to two patrons sitting and smiling at the bar. “They’re our loyal regulars.”

“Regular” Vince Ferro has been visiting Linda Jean’s for years and is thrilled to see the restaurant still thriving.

“I come here six days a week,” he said.

The biggest change to the diner will be a full bar service that will begin once its liquor license is approved. Otherwise, the Christies plan to uphold Mr. Hanover’s legacy and keep Linda Jean’s as the place Oak Bluffs knows so well.

“I really wanted to have a sit-down restaurant,” said Mr. Christie. “I get to meet so many people in town at Winston’s Kitchen and now I’ll get to know them even more.”

More pictures.