Diners are synonymous with New Jersey culture. There isn’t a style of restaurant that is more unapologetically Jersey than the humble diner. It’s a place to go after a night out and the following morning when you’re too hungover to cook. In times of need, the diner is always there.
There are hundreds of iconic diners across the Garden State—some of them large, Greek-owned establishments that can jam 100 guests into the dining room for Saturday breakfast, others are smaller, counter-style joints where patrons sit on stools or in booths. Bendix Diner in Hasbrouck Heights is the latter, but its service to the community could be coming to a close. That is, unless someone buys it.
Located right in the middle of Route 17—yes, the middle—Bendix Diner’s chrome-adorned, cable car-style build is hard to miss. A neon sign on the roof reads “BENDIX DINER,” and the building is usually seen surrounded by parked tractor-trailers. For decades, it has been a fixture of the Bergen County fabric where it resides. But now, its lifeline is under threat. Bendix Diner is officially on the market.
Let’s rewind a few months. Back in January, Bendix Diner Owner John Diakakis was forced to temporarily close due to a health code violation that stemmed from a malfunction with the fire suppression system. The building wasn’t up to code, and because of the diner’s age, it wasn’t an easy fix.
The closure was seen as temporary to regulars. To some extent, it was. According to USA Today, Diakakis was allowed by the town to reopen if he agreed to sell only cold food. He abided and reopened. However, when he began selling hot food some time later, the town forced closure once more.
Diakakis’ father originally bought the diner in the 80s, which was then passed down to his mother and later, him and his siblings.
Because of the age of the building, fixing the fire suppression system could prove costly—estimates are north of $100 thousand. With the hefty price tag looming, Diakakis decided that it was time to move on.
Bendix Diner is now listed for $2.5 million to purchase. The property is plopped directly in the center of a busy intersection where Routes 17 and 46 meet. There are reportedly interested buyers, but the fear from many is that the highest bidder will have no interest in keeping it a diner. Instead, fast food establishments and billboard plots are what some might eye it for.
So, here’s my request: Do not let this diner die without a fight. We need to preserve these nuggets of New Jersey history, which tell not just a culinary tale, but a tangible display of our state’s culture. Make yourself heard that every time a classic diner is knocked down, we lose a piece of the Garden State.
In New York, chefs are currently purchasing classic diners across the city and bringing them back to life with historically tasteful menu revamps and a preservation of the architectural bones. I see no reason why the same cannot be done here.
There is a market for diners in New Jersey. There always will be. Every classic diner that is demolished marks another piece of our state’s history thrown in the dust bin. Without these pieces of living history, generations to come will grow up in a diner-baren state—one without the same historical charm we grew up surrounded by.
It might seem silly—like I’m losing sleep over a diner—but that’s because I am. Ask yourself this: Can you imagine a New Jersey without diners? I know I can’t.
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
