NILES — With new owners now in management, JD’s Truck Stop is in the midst of an overhaul. 

The truck stop, located at 1655 Mayflower Road, was purchased about a month ago by Gurmeet Dhaliwal and his son, Aman Dhaliwal.

While some changes to JD’s Truck Stop are on the horizon, there are a couple of updates that are already apparent. The restaurant inside the truck stop has re-opened under the name JD’s Family Diner. The diner’s motto is “A taste of home.”

Aman said they hope to return the restaurant to its former popularity 10 to 15 years ago, when it was called Diesel Diner. To do so, he said they hired the former cook of Diesel Diner and revamped the menu.

“This place really needs more upgrading which is the biggest thing for us right now,” Aman said. “Within the next year, we really want to try to bring it back to what it was.”

Manager Wendy Moreland, who has worked at the location for the past four years, said customers can expect “higher quality food.” She said fries, soups and desserts are homemade, including menu items like apple crisp, topped with ice cream and caramel drizzle. Customers can also order inch-cut steaks and hamburgers with brioche buns. There are also numerous breakfast and lunch items available on the menu. Some of the most popular menu items so far have proven to be the breakfast burritos and Southern omelet, which is topped with sausage gravy, onions, peppers, cheese, fresh American fries and toast. The menu prices are mostly under $10, with a 12-ounce dinner steak costing $13.

Moreland said the diner at JD’s is important to the community as well as the travelers passing through the Niles area.    

“In an over 100-mile radius, we are the only truck stop with a sit-down diner it,” Moreland said.

Gurmeet and Aman are also in the process of applying for a liquor license for the store and restaurant.

Regarding the truck stop, Gurmeet and Aman said they have also upgraded interior lighting and made renovations to the roof and washroom. In October, they said they plan to re-pave the parking lot. The truck wash is also open and will now offer interior detailing by appointment. They have also implemented a transaction system called Comdata, which will allow the truck stop to accept more fuel cards.

Gurmeet said customers have already noticed a difference.

“[They] have been very appreciative since we changed all the lights and they are saying ‘you are doing a good job since you have been here,” he said.

Eight new employees were hired for the diner. About half are full-time positions.

The father-son duo recently moved to the Niles area from Toronto, Canada after owning and operating a gas station together for four years. In addition to their business experience, Aman earned a commerce degree in accounting from Ryerson University in Toronto.

Gurmeet and Aman said they were attracted to the Niles area because they have friends in South Bend and they saw the potential in running the truck stop, despite its need for renovations.

“This being the corner of 94 and with 80 right there, it is a great spot,” Aman said.

JD’s Family Diner is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. For more information, visit facebook.com/pg/pradasmom72/posts/?ref=page_internal.