Alain Morisod's favorite
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This is my story. The idea came to me during my travels in the land of Uncle Sam. Fascinated by the diversity of breakfast dishes, I quickly fell under the spell of the famous pancake. After many unsuccessful attempts in my kitchen, I was on the verge of giving up. But in 2008, my mind was made up: I was going to open a pancake house where you could enjoy real breakfasts. I spent two months in San Diego, California, perfecting my English and visiting restaurants, hoping to unlock their secrets. Once I had the authentic recipe in hand, I returned home with my head full of images of my future establishment, which, with its fifties decor unseen in French-speaking Switzerland, would naturally bear the name “Happy Days”.
Breakfast at Happy Days adventure to end in June 2025
The establishment, which opened in Versoix in 2009, quickly made a name for itself. The American community quickly moved in, and by popular demand, the map expanded. But Burgers soon became just as important. And it wasn’t long before Sunday became the busiest day of the year. Families with children enjoyed it and still do. Another major attraction is the decor and furnishings. Vinyl seats and black-and-white checkerboard tiles are reminiscent of a 50s diner. The walls are filled with images of fifties Hollywood actors and vintage plaques. As well as a bar lined with original license plates from various states. The venue is regularly chosen by music video producers and photographers. Alain Morisod came here to shoot a few sequences for his Coups de Cœurs.
After opening the Happy Days Diner in Versoix, I quickly realized that the retro 50s atmosphere I’d recreated appealed enormously. Customers loved the decor: the banquettes, the gas pumps, the neon lights and all the little details that took them back in time. It made me want to go even further and share this universe with others.
That’s how, 10 years later, I opened a second Happy Days restaurant in Nyon. Here too, the idea was to recreate this timeless place, but with an even more authentic touch. To achieve this, we went straight to the United States to find original items: license plates, some of which had traveled nearly 100 years, old Coca-Cola dispensers, vintage signs, posters and even old payphones. Everything has been thought out to offer a total immersion in the world of American diners of the 50s.
This second restaurant only strengthened my passion for the retro world. Today, I’m still delighted to see the smiles on customers’ faces when they walk through the door and discover this unique, almost magical atmosphere, where every detail transports them back in time.
After 15 years in the business, I felt the need to diversify my horizons, along with the desire to go out and meet villagers, private individuals and festival-goers. It was with this ambition in mind that I decided to turn an important page by handing over the Versoix restaurant. This choice enabled me to devote myself fully to a new project that was close to my heart: taking the Happy Days Diner spirit on the road.
With two food trucks proudly bearing the retro colors and ambience of my establishment, my small team and I took up the challenge of reinventing our concept while remaining true to our values. We’re now out on the road, bringing our carefully prepared, homemade burgers directly to our customers, whether they’re in a village square, at a private event or at the heart of a festival. This nomadic adventure is a breath of fresh air and a new way of sharing our passion while staying close to our community.
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