The diner was founded by Hupfer Orlando Huligan Horsefeathers Lewis two months before he adopted Our Kitchen Heroine (approximately six weeks before he was born, then), via Feline Mind Control operating at a distance. Hupfer (named, in what I am not-perhaps-entirely-reliably informed is south German dialect, meaning "hopper," for his ability to levitate six feet straight up to the tops of bookshelves and shoulders (to the distress of the shoulder, as upward motion is generally halted by the application of sharp claws!)) announced that he would join the household about a week before July Fourth, 1997, and implemented the decision (to the great happiness of all concerned) on 5 July 1997. His contributions to the sanity of the head chef are innumerable (well, but her sanity is open to question), and when he's not in one of his damned anxious moods, he's the peacekeeper of the place.

A bit over two years after Hupfer's arrival to take ownership, in late August or early September 1999, the next of the managers showed up, Merlin Ambrosius Magic Lewis. Black as mom's coffee, built like a bear to a different scale, and fiercely protective of his territory, he's chiefly notable for his ability to sense the arrival of Known Axe Murderers (apparently, the sound of tires on gravel in the driveway is a dead giveaway), which causes him to growl most convincingly, then hide behind the monitor in the computer room. Well, but it only makes sense. Haven't you seen the movies? The last thing you want to do is to bravely set out to fight the villain ... it's like deciding to take a walk in the abandoned cemetery at midnight. Great for advancing the plot, but generally at the cost of shortening the length of one's cameo. In any event, he's quite effective at terrifying any interlopers that are closer to his weight class, and treats abusing Qetzl, our hostess and model of the vanity of earthly endeavour, as an amusing hobby to fill his spare time. Generally at three in the morning, after mom's just managed to drop off to sleep ....

Qetzl is his sister, and arrived a week later, because mom couldn't bear to bust up the set, and had fallen in love with her. Qetzlcoatl Montezuma Pretzel Miss Lewis has never, so far as can be determined, requited the feeling. But she adds life and excitement to the household, being in the habit of demanding to have her hair brushed every morning, and of wandering around talking aloud. She is the most social of the three owners; Hupfer tends toward the distant and aloof, Merlin toward the frantically shy (except in the presence of two or three people who have proven themselves not to be dangerous axe murderers). Qetzl seems to be particularly fond of anyone with a sensitivity to dander, who she unnerringly identifies and befriends for life.

The owners are also acquainted with Maxtor Dukes, who was once a relatively regular attendee, and still makes an occasional appearance. Maxtor is most known for taking on Merlin's role of chief bully of Qetzl, for not being clever enough to run away from that little bruiser quickly enough, and for sneezing. But he's one of our favorites, anyway (although Merlin might prefer him served up).

All three owners (and their colleague) are notable for their usually calm lifestyles, their beauty, and the softness of their fur. Further details are available in the page dedicated to each.