TURNERS FALLS — Last June, the Shady Glen Diner at 7 Avenue A was put up for sale. Nine months later, a buyer still has not been found, but owner Charles Garbiel has extended the diner’s hours and expects to play the long game.

Garbiel said he’s had a couple offers since the diner went up for sale last summer, including a buyer who was close to purchasing it until the plans fell through. In the winter, Garbiel said, he expected there to be a lull in offers.

“I had a feeling in the winter, it was gonna be a hard sell,” Garbiel said, “because nothing moves in the winter.”

Even though Garbiel’s goal was to sell the diner so he could spend more time with his family, a four-member staff, including the return of full-time cook Ramon Nieves, has allowed the diner to open Thursday through Monday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“This is my first weekend I actually didn’t have to be up in the morning, have an alarm clock, anything like that,” Garbiel said. “And it was nice to spend some quality time with the family.”

With more staff, Garbiel has more time to spend with his family. Although he still hopes to sell the diner, he said he’s not in a hurry.

The diner is listed online for $399,900 by Realtor Don Mailloux with Coldwell Banker Community Realtors. The business sits on 0.4 acres and is 1,190 square feet. The listing says the restaurant has seating for 46 with booths and counter service, as well as benches outside for additional seating in nicer weather.

The diner has been open for more than 60 years in Turners Falls, with the original owner James Carey selling the restaurant in 2004 to other owners before Garbiel took over in 2012. The diner earned national attention when the late chef, author and TV personality Anthony Bourdain visited in April 2014 for an episode of “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown” that aired later that year on CNN.

Garbiel noted that selling a food business and buying one is difficult on its own, given the apprehension many banks have around the level of profit a business must make to pay back a loan. With the state of the economy now, he said a sale may take even longer.

“Banks have never been a fan of lending money to restaurants, even when times are good,” Garbiel sad. “Now, with everything going on in the economy, banks are even less likely to finance.”

Given this possibility of an extended time before a seller comes in, Garbiel said the extra staffing and extending hours is still allowing him time to work outside the diner and see his family, making it easier for him to keep the Shady Glen Diner a little longer.

“I just kind of run it business as usual every day,” he said, “and then if somebody comes and makes a reasonable offer for it, then so be it.”

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.