Name: Wendy Betten

Age: 52

Military Service: U.S. Army, 1981-1983, Private First Class (E-3)


Business Name : The Hot Metal Diner

Location: West Mifflin, Pa.

Number of Employees: 8

Number of Military Employees: 1

Year Founded: 2007

Fast Facts:

Favorite TV Show: Hell’s Kitchen

Any Kids? One daughter, Jamie, 26.

Dream Job: I have my dream job

Hobbies: Farming and stained glass windows

Favorite Musician: Toby Keith

What is your key to success? Getting up early and staying up late. I only sleep about three hours a night

Any Pets? My dog, Harley


Breif Write-Up:

With more than 33 years experience under her belt, Wendy Betten knows the restaurant business. In 2002, she said she was inspired to open her own restaurant since she thought she could do it better than most of the diners around her hometown of Pittsburgh. “Plus, I couldn’t find a good place to eat, so I had to build one,” Betten said.  

Betten sold her first diner in 2006 and retired for about a year. Her entrepreneurial spirit wouldn’t let her rest on her laurels so she decided to build a new restaurant, the Hot Metal Diner, in 2007. Betten said her time in the Army taught her how to be clean and pay attention to detail, as evidenced by the immaculately clean kitchen and food storage area.

Now, three years later, Betten’s diner is thriving and served such high-profile guests as Hillary Clinton, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and Miss Pennsylvania, to name a few. Betten attributes much of her success to her marketing savvy. She along with four other small business owners formed a partnership called the Diner Ladies to pool their resources to purchase advertising on local television and radio outlets.

She’s also quick to credit her staff, the majority of which has remained unchanged since the diner opened.
“I have the most awesome staff,” Betten said. “I’m not trusting person, but trust my staff because they are loyal and honest as the day is long.” 

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