Silver Diner restaurants are located in the Washington, DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia metropolitan areas. The first unit in this chain of casual dining, family Diners' opened in February, 1989 in Rockville, Maryland. Since opening, Silver Diner has received extensive local, national and international print and television coverage, including an article in the October 1990 FORBES magazine featuring "The 200 Best Small Companies in America."

ROBERT GIAIMO 

Co-founder, President and CEO

Robert Giaimo co-founded Silver Diner, Inc. with Chef Ype Von Hengst in 1989, the largest chain of diners in America. Giaimo grew up going to diners, and they have always occupied a special place in his heart. He has always seen them as a neighborhood gathering place where there is something for everyone at any time of the day and night. He and Von Hengst sought to bridge the gap between tablecloth restaurants and fast food by establishing the first Silver Diner in Rockville, Maryland. Silver Diner, Inc. now has 17 locations in three states.

Giaimo, a native New Yorker, moved to Washington, DC to pursue his undergraduate education at Georgetown University and Harvard University’s Smaller Company Management Program in 1982. In 1971, as a freshman at Georgetown, Giaimo developed monolith Enterprises, Inc., which opened and operated the Blimpies in Georgetown – the first Blimpies franchise outside of New York City, which immediately became the busiest in the chain. Giaimo graduated from Georgetown University Business School in 1974 and continued to operate the Blimpies until 1976.

Prior to developing the Silver Diner concept, Giaimo founded and served as President of American Café Restaurants –  an innovative, award-winning, seven-unit restaurant chain that was an east coast pioneer in founding the “American Cuisine” movement and included five gourmet markets and catering service. In 1985, Giaimo sold the American Café to the W.R. Grace Company.

Giaimo was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young, Inc. Magazine and Merrill Lynch. He is active in the community as he has chaired the Muscular Dystrophy Organization for several years and serves as a senior advisor on their board. A long-term board member of the Young Presidents Organization, Giaimo is currently a member of the World President’s Organization.

Giaimo also lends his time and talents serving on the Board of Washington’s Muscular Dystrophy Association and OneVoice, a grass-roots organization that promotes peaceful solutions to the conflict in the Middle East.

YPE VON HENGST

Co-founder and Vice President of Culinary Operations

Executive Chef Ype Von Hengst is a Co-Founder, alongside President and CEO BoB Giaimo, of the Silver Diner. Ype also serves as the Vice President of Culinary Operations, Member of the Board of Directors, Director of Purchasing and Director of Quality Control at the Silver Diner. In addition to his managerial roles, Ype is primarily responsible for the development of all menu selections. After co-founding Silver Diner, Inc. with Giaimo in 1989, Ype has developed hundreds of seasonal specials and new menu items to ensure Silver Diner’s selections continually reflect the trends and changes in consumer tastes and preferences.

Prior to co-founding Silver Diner, Ype served as executive chef for the Washington, D.C. Metro Area American Cafes, where Ype first met and worked with Giaimo. Ype also worked as a partner and general manager for Dominique’s on Pennsylvania Avenue, Stouffer’s Hotels, Hilton Hotels and Radisson Hotels. He served as executive chef and corporate chef for Restaurant Associates at Rockefeller Center in New York City, where he oversaw a dozen premier New York restaurants and is credited with the development of the restaurant’s highly successful original menu.

Ype received his training as an apprentice in some of Europe’s finest restaurants. Born in the Netherlands, Ype discovered his passion for food while cooking for his family at the age of seven. His time spent in the garden and in the kitchen has led to a lifelong career of cooking and helping others live a healthier life.

Committed and dedicated to living a healthy life, Ype has competed in the Marine Corps Marathon and pairs healthy eating with weightlifting every day. With two culinary medals, Chef Ype has cooked for the likes of Michael Jackson, President Reagan and the Rolling Stones. Above all of his successes in life, Ype considers his biggest accomplishment his relationship with his wife and being a father to his two children.

In January 2007, Ype revolutionized dining in the DC area when the Silver Diner became the first chain restaurant to eliminate the use of trans fats from the menus of all its locations. Response from customers was overwhelmingly positive, so Ype used this momentum when creating the menu for METRO. Preparing meals with less fat, lighter sauces, and locally sourced or organic ingredients (when available), METRO offers American favorites with a healthier edge for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night.

The changes that he has made on a professional level for his guests have also paid off for Chef Ype on a personal note. Over the period eight months, he dropped more than 30 pounds thanks to increased physical activity (weightlifting and daily “boot camp”) and a well-balanced diet. Chef Ype did this to train for his first-ever Marine Corps Marathon, which he completed in October 2008.   

Animated, well-versed and knowledgeable on a wide variety of subjects – from diners to trans fats – Ype is available for interviews and cooking segments on radio or television. 

Board of Directors 

CATHERINE BRITTON has been a director since March 1996. Prior to March 1996, Britton was a director of Silver Diner Development, Inc. from July 1995 until March of the following year. Britton assists with the development, marketing and design of Silver Diner restaurants and has been involved with menu development and concept evolution since Silver Diner Development, Inc.’s inception. Britton graduated from Georgetown University in 1975, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy and earned a Master’s Degree in Special Education from George Washington University in 1978. She is married to the President of Silver Diner Development, Inc., Robert T. Giaimo.

ALAIN CHETRIT has been a director since 2010 and is currently the CEO of Expansion Alliance Group. Chetrit is an entrepreneur with experience and knowledge in retailing, franchising, real estate investment, M&A advisory services and capital markets. He founded and operated numerous companies with his management background in business operations, corporate acquisitions, market development and corporate finance and planning. He studied Business Administration at American University in Washington, DC and was a contributor to Financing Your Business with Venture Capital in1998. He is an active member, a regional chairman and sits on the International Board of Young President’s Organization and World President’s Organization (YPO/WPO).

MICHAEL COLLIER has been a director since March 1999.Collier is the President of Uniwest Group, Inc. and Uniwest Construction, Inc., companies in the real estate development and general contracting industries. Collier serves as the developer and general contractor for the Silver Diner Development, Inc. diners. He is also on the Board of Directors for Gateway Communities, Inc., a non-profit developing company of senior housing.

EDWARD H. KAPLAN has been a director since March 1996. Prior to March 1996, Kaplan was a director of Silver Diner Development, Inc. from 1987 until March 1996. Kaplan is a real estate developer and investor, serving since 1983 as a Director of Palmer National Bank in Washington, DC and its successor, George Mason Bankshares until April 1998 when George Mason merged into United Bankshares. He now serves on the Board of Directors of United Bank of Virginia. Kaplan received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School in 1961. He currently is a member of the Maryland Public Television Commission and the Maryland Public Television Foundation Board of Directors.

PATRICK MESKELL joined Silver Diner in January 1996. As Executive Vice President of Operations, Meskell oversees the operations, recruitment, training and development of Silver Diner managers and associates. His experience inspired him to develop an innovative classroom known as the Silver Diner University, where he teaches ownership, commitment and accountability.  Prior to his work with Silver Diner, Meskell served as the Director of Organizational Development and Management of operations at Sallie Mae. Meskell has also served as an independent consultant to financial institutions, specializing in the areas of risk management systems design and implementation. Meskell was a member of the senior management team of two software development companies in Ireland and acted as a human resources, recruitment and training specialist for the Electricity Supply Board. Meskell received his B.A. in European studies from the University of Limerick in Ireland. In addition to his former role as Executive Vice President of Operations for Silver Diner, Meskell is a member of Silver Diner’s Board of Directors.

CHARLES M. STEINER is currently a private investor, and served as a director of Silver Diner Development, Inc. from 1987 until March 1996. Prior to his time at with the Silver Diner, Steiner served as the Chief Executive Officer of Branch Group, Inc., an electric distributor. In 1975, Steiner founded IMARK, an electric cooperative, and in 1991, founded EDIC, a distribution insurance company. He is a former director and officer of the National Association of Electric Distributors (NAED) and received a B.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Pittsburgh in 1963.