| The Jersey Diner is going the way of many | | | | the children of the Greek immigrant diner |
| traditional institutions with changes to keep | | | | owners have been through college and have |
| pace with the times. If you have not yet | | | | become non-restaurant professionals and are |
| eaten at a Jersey diner, do it now before it | | | | not interested in the long workdays and |
| becomes a lost opportunity. | | | | limited vacations. With this, the Greek |
| | | | owners with no children to pass their |
| New Jersey, often referred to as the "diner | | | | business to, are selling out to other |
| capital of the world", with more than 500 | | | | immigrants, mostly Asian, who are willing to |
| diners, it has the largest concentration of | | | | endure the sacrifices of time. |
| diners in the United States. | | | | |
| | | | Another change in the traditional diner is |
| For a true New Jersey experience, eating at a | | | | the hours of operation. In the past many |
| diner is a must. They have a beloved "Joizy" | | | | diners in New Jersey were open 24 hours a day |
| ambiance, family friendly, in-expensive, | | | | and now there are probably no more than a |
| offer a huge variety of food, and are usually | | | | dozen diners in NJ open 24 hours a day. |
| open when other eateries are closed. | | | | |
| | | | The Definition of the Jersey Diner |
| The Jersey Diner is Changing | | | | |
| | | | There is considerable debate on what the |
| The Jersey diner ranges from the shiny chrome | | | | definition of a diner is. |
| rail-like cars with neon signs and lighting | | | | |
| to the more modern stone-walled structures | | | | The most popular view of the definition of a |
| that are replacing the rail-like car, | | | | diner is a place where you can get cheap |
| brightly lit buildings. Many of the original | | | | eats, with a very large menu, and open 7 days |
| diners were long and narrow, one room | | | | a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They |
| eateries with a long counter and booths with | | | | also have at least one room with a long |
| juke boxes on the tables. Today they are | | | | counter and booths. Refrigerated glass |
| giving way to multi-room structures with | | | | displays with dessert trays are usually |
| multiple dining areas with some large enough | | | | located at the entrance. The variety of food |
| to host a private party or banquet. | | | | offered and the size of the menu is gigantic. |
| | | | They serve up almost all of the basic |
| The ownership of diners is also undergoing | | | | traditional meal items from the usual |
| change. Anyone who has eaten in a diner | | | | breakfast pancakes, eggs, waffles, etc., to |
| associates the ownership with first | | | | sandwiches, burgers, fries, and traditional |
| generation Greek immigrants. Today, many of | | | | American hot dishes and soups. |