Aldergrove's family-run restaurant famous for its pies, Hilltop Diner Cafe, was suddenly closed permanently in July this year. 

Initially, the diner was temporarily closed for July and August with plans for new owners to take over starting September. 

But a notice on the window of the popular diner announced that it was permanently closing due to circumstances involving the property's landlord, and the former owners confirmed the closure with The Star later on.

It wasn’t an easy life for the Hilltop Diner Cafe. Some owners had different visions for it, and Hilltop even closed down for a few years in the 1970s. But throughout it all, the diner remained a staple in the Langley and Aldergrove communities up until it closed its doors.

Former Hilltop owner, and its last, Brianne Williams took over the diner in 2020. 

She hadn't ever expected her first challenge to be keeping Hilltop alive during and after the COVID pandemic. 

"I kept the diner going through COVID, supply chain shortages, labour shortages – it was not an easy go. But I met some of the most amazing customers, some who have become like family," Williams shared. 

Thanks to their loyal customers and staff, Hilltop made it through.

"The team that was there up until the day we closed (July 15) and who were planning on coming back [for September], I am forever thankful for," Williams said.

Williams said she even created some of her own pies to add to the menu. 

"I loved making pies... the chocolate bar pie was probably my favourite, layers of fudge and caramel with bits of chocolate bar [in] the topping. It sold out fast!"

Her favourite memories are her conversations with regular customers, and hearing their stories of their family's generational visits to the diner.

Hilltop was built in 1946 alongside the then five-year-old Highway 1A, now Fraser Highway. There was limited-to-no transit options back then, so commuters would travel most of the day between Vancouver and Chilliwack. 

Known as the Langley Prairie, the Hilltop was considered a convenient halfway mark. It was built to service the motel on the same property, where commuters and travellers could stop for the night and have homemade meals.

Today, the motel is gone and Fraser Highway is no longer the only route for travel through the Lower Mainland. 

Hilltop became well known for its homemade pies. The diner has also been featured in dozens of films, including 'The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants', 'Bates Motel', and the 'X-files' TV series. It was also on John Catucci's 'You Gotta Eat Here' TV show on The Food Network.