Gary “Diz” Window – The Man, The Myth, The Legend
You may know him as the quiet guy in the kitchen or the steady hand behind your favorite comfort food—but there’s a whole lot more to Gary “Diz” Window than meets the eye. Here’s a peek behind the curtain [or through the kitchen window] at the man who helped bring Diz’s to life.
How He Became “Diz”
The nickname “Diz” was born at age four, during a family movie night. A talkative young Gary wouldn’t stop chattering through a film about pitcher Dizzy Dean—so his older brother gave him a nickname that stuck.
Decades later, he would feature his nickname on a family-fun, online cooking show called “Diz’s Cafe.” (You can still view Diz’s Cafe videos on YouTube.) So, what better name for his new restaurant? Diz’s, as it is more commonly known, is a spinoff of the original YouTube show featuring Gary having fun, developing menus and making family meals.
Manchester Made
Born and raised right here in Manchester, Gary grew up in a bustling home with five siblings. He learned to cook by helping his Dad to make family dinners—a skill that would quietly shape the path ahead. As a teenager, he got his first restaurant job at Angelo’s, a beloved, family-owned Queen City institution. He worked at Angelo’s from the age of 16 throughout his college years. That experience left a lasting impression—not just about how to run a kitchen, but how to make a restaurant feel like home.
Career-Building Years
After graduating from Memorial High School, Gary earned a degree in Hotel Administration from the University of New Hampshire. His post-college career began at Wendy’s, where he developed his business and leadership skills as a regional manager.
By the late 1980s, Gary and his wife Judi set off to grow their experience in the hospitality world – managing inns and restaurants in New England. They served as resident managers at The Village Cove Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine, and at the Westsider Motel and Café Rolf near Crotched Mountain in Bennington, NH. These hands-on roles added depth to their understanding of service, food, and what it takes to run a successful, multi-faceted business.
Eventually, Gary was recruited to Shorty’s Mexican Roadhouse by his brother’s wife, Jacki Window. [Jacki is also Judi’s sister- but that’s a story for another day.] Shorty’s was another step along Diz’s long and trusted restaurant career—earning the respect of colleagues like Billy Martin, who would later play a key role in launching Diz’s.
The Spark for Diz’s Cafe
In 2019, Gary traveled to Florida to meet Judi, who was on a business trip with her boss, Peter Morgan. While catching up, Peter – an experienced entrepreneur – asked Gary a question that stopped him in his tracks: “What do you really want to be doing with your life?”
That’s when the idea hit. He didn’t want to just manage someone else’s restaurant anymore – he wanted to build one of his own.
Back in New Hampshire, during a visit with Billy Martin (his longtime colleague from Shorty’s), Gary casually shared his restaurant dream. Billy didn’t hesitate: “I’d be very interested in helping with that project.” And just like that, the wheels were in motion.
Building a Downtown Destination
With Judi’s business development expertise and a shared passion for revitalizing downtown, the couple worked together with family, friends, fellow business owners, and city officials to craft a concept that would fill gaps in the downtown restaurant scene: a comfortable, everyday, come-as-you-are place offering familiar food with unexpected flair – including weekend breakfast.
They signed the lease at 860 Elm Street on January 6, 2020. The team began renovations right away, planning to open on April 1st. But on March 16th, the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Navigating pandemic-related delays, Diz’s officially opened on May 29th, 2020—serving food through their front windows, with restrictions and limited indoor service that continued through the end of the pandemic in May 2023.
Five years later, their vision still remains simple—and even more powerful:
Comfort food made from scratch – with a twist.
Now serving daily lunch, supper, weekend breakfast, cocktails, and fun, Diz’s quickly earned its reputation as a welcoming spot for locals, workers, families, and visitors alike.
Gary’s Touch, Every Day
Though he’s not one to seek the spotlight, Gary’s fingerprints are on everything at Diz’s:
- The scratch-made recipes
- The systems that keep the kitchen running
- The playful-but-practical touches that make the space feel retro and real
He’s the kind of guy who’s in before the doors open and still checking in long after supper’s served – whether he’s planning the menu, cooking on the line, dicing ingredients or quietly helping train a new team member.
And just like at Angelo’s all those years ago, he still believes a restaurant can feel like family.
Just for Fun
When he’s not elbow-deep in prep lists or planning menus, Gary loves catching a game – any game. Whether it’s baseball, football, basketball, or hockey, he’s a die-hard sports fan with a soft spot for the Red Sox and New England teams.
He also has a deep love of music – his favorite artist is Eric Clapton – and has fond memories of the record store days. (Does anyone remember Strawberries?)
A Quiet Legend
He may never say it himself, but everyone at Diz’s knows: there’d be no Diz’s Cafe without Diz.
He’s the kind of legend who doesn’t need a megaphone.
The kind of leader who doesn’t need a title.
The kind of restaurateur who lets the food – and the team – shine.
So next time you’re enjoying a hot meal or cold cocktail at 860 Elm, raise a toast to the man behind it all.
Eat. Drink. Be Happy.
And maybe give a little wave to Diz while you’re at it.
