Mike Graham, owner of The Jukebox Junction 1950s diner-style restaurant in the Bethel community, says three different “junctions” in his life ultimately led him to being “home” at The Jukebox Junction along the Pigeon River.

“It was one of those things that was just meant to be,” said Graham, as he reflected on his life story.

When Graham opens up the restaurant at 7 a.m., he is certainly not a hands-off type of owner, but he gets right in there in the kitchen and dining room, working alongside his employees, because he knows what it’s like. After he graduated from North Branford High School in 1977 in North Branford, Conn., he worked two jobs – one as a shift supervisor at Friendly’s Restaurant and the other fueling transfer trucks at a local truck stop.

Then, he moved to Ft. Lauderdale, ...