Is it a trend for diners to close in New Jersey? Here in Hackensack, two near me have closed, the Arena Diner about a year ago, and the New Heritage Diner closing today. For those in this area, what breakfast places would you recommend?
NJ institution. But if they're closing I have to think it's because they aren't as profitable as other options. It may have started as a family business, a personal passion of the original owner. But as loyal customers grow old and the next generation of restaurant goers don't see the same charm their parents did... people move on.
There were about 6 diners near my home that my family and friends frequented throughout my childhood and teenage years. Living near Atlanta now, Diners here are more of themed restaurant. part of a larger restaurant group that fits a niche of customers.
Like saying goodbye to drive-in movies in New Jersey, the Diners may be next.
was a nice place for a very simple breakfast but the average age of customers looked to be long time customers in their 60s. Less than a mile down the road is the Chit Chat diner with a more modern menu and younger customers.
Drunk at 2 am eating eggs and french fries. The 80s we're a great time. Diners were the place to go for whatever you wanted to eat at 2 am. These millennials with their low carb vodka aren't downing pancakes at 3 in the morning.
Most people today seem to think the food is better at pf Chang's or Chili's. Shoot, I could order a grilled cheese, you could have a steak and our dates could eat meatloaf and lobster. Good times.
Get off my lawn.
I'm hard pressed to ascertain the main reasons behind their
demise, but no doubt "Diners" as a subclass of restaurants are a shrinking category, even in NJ and NY.
I think the younger generations' shift to healthier low carbs food is part of it, but then how does one explain away the continued growth of the low value fast food chains featuring burgers, chicken sandwiches, and the ubiquitous fries?
There seems to one or another fast food chain at every corner in America.
The next reason I'd suggest would be the expansion of various ethnic cuisines. As a kid, eating "ethnic" food meant either Chinese or perhaps Italian. Now there's a multitude of ethnic choices including the variety of Asian that spread out from Japanese and Sushi bars in the '70s, and expanded rapidly with Thai food catching on, then Vietnamese and at the same time, not as rapid fire perhaps Indian, which is probably at least 5 different cuisine labeled under a single nationalist banner.
That's not even considering "New American", Vegetarian, or Mexican which were almost non-existent or really poorly represented and distributed two generations ago, when Diners ruled.
But to answer your question in short, yeah Diners are definitely disappearing.
And Diners outside the midlantic region are largely a joke.
can't remember where. The article was talking about the disappearing NJ Diners. One of the explanations it gave is the proliferation of the huge food service companies like Sysco & US Foods, that service a lot of the diners. The menus are so large that it makes financial sense for the diners to buy prepared foods from the big companies to cut down on labor costs, but also reducing the quality & freshness of the food. I haven't been to a diner in quite a while, so it's not my view, just passing on a thought on the subject that I read.
was a nice place for a very simple breakfast but the average age of customers looked to be long time customers in their 60s. Less than a mile down the road is the Chit Chat diner with a more modern menu and younger customers.
I can’t believe this is closing. Wife and I used to go there all the time when she was pregnant and we’d be leaving Hackensack hosp or the obgyn in that area. And you’re exactly right we were by far the youngest people eating there and it was never crowded. But I still never envisioned the arena closing down.
over a year ago with almost no notice. Still just a fenced off lot which was a pile of rubble. Speculation on site’s future? Condo? Expansion of hospital?
the beach here in Tampa Bay replete with an owner who was always there, coked up, and would rip shots of ouzo with you in back. Deal breaker for me it was closed at 11 and I'm more a go to a diner at 2 am type of guy.
Fast food places are exploding because they are convenient and have cheap options. Diners are significantly more money. Plus the increased competition in the higher grade bar food that seems to be ubiquitous everywhere now and places the specialize in breakfast. It's the age of specialization for small businesses, really the only way they can compete against the big boys. I will say that diner next to me was always packed with the grey hairs around the clock. The local beach demographic trends older so the guy was killing it.
over a year ago with almost no notice. Still just a fenced off lot which was a pile of rubble. Speculation on site’s future? Condo? Expansion of hospital?
Could be either - I remember the Forum Diner on Route 4 closed because it was supposed to be the Jeep dealership that is now a 1/4 mile east.
all with very similar fare and let's face it much of it not very good.
Lots of competition these days. Fast food joints like McD's have expanded their hours and menus so they get some of the late nighters. Fast casual like Panera and Chipotle siphon off some of the dinner crowd.
I think we're just seeing a thinning of the ranks and plenty will survive especially since they seem to still dominate breakfast.
over a year ago with almost no notice. Still just a fenced off lot which was a pile of rubble. Speculation on site’s future? Condo? Expansion of hospital?
Could be either - I remember the Forum Diner on Route 4 closed because it was supposed to be the Jeep dealership that is now a 1/4 mile east.
i think the Forum diner site is where they opened an indoor skydiving facility a couple of years ago.
Here in PA, good diners are a rarity, and I have seen quite a few go under. We don't have the ethnic diversity here, there's a lot of chain restaurants. I think the large convenience stores are gobbling up a lot of the business; larger sandwich selections, a certain amount of hot food, and now a lot out here sell beer. After growing up in North NJ, I can't get myself to buy anything from the convenience stores except gasoline. But a lot of people I know here, eat lunch at them everyday. Blech!
The Nautilus in Madison and the Florham Park Diner are the ones I remember from growing up (after my wife and I eloped we had our “reception” at the Nautilus). I understand why the species is in decline, but I miss it.
Until you move out of NJ and you can’t find one anymore. Yeah you’ll find places that call themselves diners but they really aren’t. When all you really want is some meat loaf or disco fries and you can’t get them, that is when you appreciate the joy and wonder of the NJ Diner.
RE: in this area, what breakfast places would you recommend?
For breakfast I would also recommend a small place (not a diner) which opened a few years called the Maywood Pancake House. I have found the Chit Chat Diner to be inconsistent.
Does anyone know the name of the ficticious Pells Diner that was the hangout for the guys in the 1980 movie Diner? I know it was located somewhere in Maryland
over a year ago with almost no notice. Still just a fenced off lot which was a pile of rubble. Speculation on site’s future? Condo? Expansion of hospital?
A big developer got the property. I forget the details. Not a hospital expansion
There were about 6 diners near my home that my family and friends frequented throughout my childhood and teenage years. Living near Atlanta now, Diners here are more of themed restaurant. part of a larger restaurant group that fits a niche of customers.
Like saying goodbye to drive-in movies in New Jersey, the Diners may be next.
Most people today seem to think the food is better at pf Chang's or Chili's. Shoot, I could order a grilled cheese, you could have a steak and our dates could eat meatloaf and lobster. Good times.
Get off my lawn.
I think the younger generations' shift to healthier low carbs food is part of it, but then how does one explain away the continued growth of the low value fast food chains featuring burgers, chicken sandwiches, and the ubiquitous fries?
There seems to one or another fast food chain at every corner in America.
The next reason I'd suggest would be the expansion of various ethnic cuisines. As a kid, eating "ethnic" food meant either Chinese or perhaps Italian. Now there's a multitude of ethnic choices including the variety of Asian that spread out from Japanese and Sushi bars in the '70s, and expanded rapidly with Thai food catching on, then Vietnamese and at the same time, not as rapid fire perhaps Indian, which is probably at least 5 different cuisine labeled under a single nationalist banner.
That's not even considering "New American", Vegetarian, or Mexican which were almost non-existent or really poorly represented and distributed two generations ago, when Diners ruled.
But to answer your question in short, yeah Diners are definitely disappearing.
And Diners outside the midlantic region are largely a joke.
I go there and it's overrated. Westwood Pancake House is better at least for breakfast.
BENDIX DINER FTW.
Most of these diners are owned by Greeks whose kids want to be restaurateurs - hence the diners are closing.
I can’t believe this is closing. Wife and I used to go there all the time when she was pregnant and we’d be leaving Hackensack hosp or the obgyn in that area. And you’re exactly right we were by far the youngest people eating there and it was never crowded. But I still never envisioned the arena closing down.
Fast food places are exploding because they are convenient and have cheap options. Diners are significantly more money. Plus the increased competition in the higher grade bar food that seems to be ubiquitous everywhere now and places the specialize in breakfast. It's the age of specialization for small businesses, really the only way they can compete against the big boys. I will say that diner next to me was always packed with the grey hairs around the clock. The local beach demographic trends older so the guy was killing it.
Could be either - I remember the Forum Diner on Route 4 closed because it was supposed to be the Jeep dealership that is now a 1/4 mile east.
Lots of competition these days. Fast food joints like McD's have expanded their hours and menus so they get some of the late nighters. Fast casual like Panera and Chipotle siphon off some of the dinner crowd.
I think we're just seeing a thinning of the ranks and plenty will survive especially since they seem to still dominate breakfast.
Quote:
over a year ago with almost no notice. Still just a fenced off lot which was a pile of rubble. Speculation on site’s future? Condo? Expansion of hospital?
Could be either - I remember the Forum Diner on Route 4 closed because it was supposed to be the Jeep dealership that is now a 1/4 mile east.
Quote:
Park Ridge, NJ
I go there and it's overrated. Westwood Pancake House is better at least for breakfast.
BENDIX DINER FTW.
Most of these diners are owned by Greeks whose kids want to be restaurateurs - hence the diners are closing.
Oh it’s definitely overrated. It’s just the closest to my house.
& Hackensack Ave
River Edge Diner - Kinderkamack Rd - River Edge
Chit Chat Diner - Essex St Lodi
Gotham City Diner Rt 4 E -Fairlawn
& Hackensack Ave
River Edge Diner - Kinderkamack Rd - River Edge
Chit Chat Diner - Essex St Lodi
Gotham City Diner Rt 4 E -Fairlawn
Waffle House is the Denny’s of the South. The food is a little better but the entertainment value is the same.
That closed about a year ago. Six Brothers on 46 behind MSU closed a couple weeks ago.
A big developer got the property. I forget the details. Not a hospital expansion