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