Whether it’s the sweet smell of fresh corn muffins in the air, or the “mom and pop” atmosphere, customers ranging from college students to those pushing the century mark in age are drawn to Kermit’s Restaurant everyday.

“All our recipes, specials, pies, pastries, soups and salad dressings are homemade,” said Jim Maas, owner of Kermit’s Restaurant at 307 S. Main St., whose daughter creates most of the recipes. “Very few people do that.”

“My wife and I haven’t gotten rich here, but it’s been very satisfying to do it our own way,” Maas said.

Mass has owned Kermit’s for 18 years and has some employees that have been with him for 15 to 17 of those years, which Maas thinks is uncommon today.

“Turnover in the restaurant business industry is 700 percent. In other words, if you have 10 employees working for you, you’ll have to hire 70 more by the end of the year,” Maas said.

Kermit’s is busiest on weekends and is filled with people of all ages, a rarity to Maas.

“Students tend to congregate where other students are,” he said. “I think they come here because they like their breakfast late in the afternoon because they party until two or three in the morning.” Maas added that older people come because they are on a fixed income and the restaurant offers them reduced prices.

“We give senior discounts everyday of the week,” Maas said. “Most places don’t have it on the weekends.”

Jamie Smith, a waitress in her early 20s who has worked at Kermit’s since she was 14 said the people she works with are what has kept her there so long.

“The people that I work with are pretty much like my family,” Smith said. “We can fight like brothers and sisters and get along like brothers and sisters.”

Located in a small community like Bowling Green, Kermit’s has a loyal customers base sometimes spanning decades.

Among the regular customers is Tom Miller, a patron of Kermit’s for nearly 18 years.

“The last time his refrigerator broke down, I don’t think he [Miller] got it fixed,” Maas said. “As far as I know, he eats all his meals here,” Maas said.

Miller is one of Smith’s favorite customers.

“Tom Miller is like a grandfather figure to us, gives us advice and he’s always here when we need him,” Smith said. “He’s been like a grandpa to me.”

Local resident John Beach, in his late 80s, walks to the restaurant almost daily.

“John is a fixture around town, everybody knows him,” Maas said. “He eats here almost everyday.”

Kermit’s is not only perfect for seniors on a fixed income, but the prices also entice University students to make the trip to Main Street for a homemade meal.

Sasha Donelson, senior, has eaten breakfast at Kermit’s and understands why customers keep coming back.

“I am obsessed with their corn muffins, I could eat those for breakfast everyday,” Donelson said. “It [Kermit’s] is tiny and packed, but as busy as it is, they get our food out quickly and it was well prepared.”

Gail Reeves, senior, enjoyed the restaurant so much she recommended it to Donelson.

“It’s got cheap prices and it’s pretty good food,” Reeves said.

Reeves pointed out that Kermit’s is unique because it’s not a chain restaurant.

“Yeah, it’s an older atmosphere, like a ‘mom and pop’ restaurant so you feel like you’re getting a home cooked meal basically,” she said.

Smith said the student customers add entertainment to her sometimes mundane work days.

“Students are funny,” Smith said. “I could sit here and listen to their stories of the night before. It’s entertaining to hear what goes on in other people’s lives.”

Kermit’s atmosphere, while small and quaint, lets people get to know each other.

“We got people on one side waving to people on the other,” Maas said. “You’ll find it’s a very friendly place.