Latest News

Bel Aire Diner: Kallas’ Decisions

Category: The Diner Industry

Published on Tuesday, 14 September 2010 18:40

Written by Plain Speaker

UPDATE: OK, now I’m really confused. DinerHotline posted this pic of the Bel-​Aire sitting on Rte 1 on cribbing a mere 45 ft. forward of where it used to operate. Whaaaa? But the earlier postings said it was being moved last week to Lowell, and then possibly later to New Hampshire. Now, it seems the Bel-​Aire has not gone anywhere at all! Just moved forward off its foundation and is for sale as is, where is. And as for the “3 interested buyers”.…. yah, whatever JK. If this is the case, it makes me howl! Just more John Kallas. Also explains what he meant when he said “Maybe I’ll just move it to the back of the lot on Route 1″ Meaning — if he doesn’t get his $50Gs, JK’ll just move it back 100 ft. and it’ll remain there for sale — forever. This story is now even MORE like the Branchburg and Vale-​Rio. Also, one day soon the Sanfords will put Eddie’s and Travelers up for sale as well. That’ll make five. As for Jimmy Evans Flyer — that is going to meet an abrupt end with a front end loader and a steel bin.

We were right. What is now “official”, is exactly what we’ve observed about John Kallas’ callous choices regarding the Bel-​Aire, a diner his family ordered new from Mountain View some 55 years ago. For more than 5 years Roadside had this diner on its Diner For Sale list. In all the time since it closed in 2004, it has decayed, been unheated, had water running through it, etc. Just like the Branchburg and Vale-​Rio Diners.

Now, let’s do the math. Last week’s move to nowhere likely set John Kallas back $25,000+. For the past 5 yrs. Kallas told potential buyers that he wanted a whopping $199,000 for the diner and/​or “make me an offer — but I’ll warn you, I want more than these things typically go for.” Yada yada yada…

Forget the Remember

Category: The Diner Industry

Published on Monday, 06 September 2010 19:56

Written by Plain Speaker

News that Rochester, New Hampshire’s Remember When Diner is to be auctioned off later this month is par for the course. I shed no tears for the demise of any Starlite — especially one promoting the awful Doo-​wop 50s Elvis /​Marilyn schtick.

The fact that a Starlite has failed is of little interest. However, what is noteworthy is the diner operation — the numbers. Once again, there’s that $1.1 MILLION figure I’ve discussed and calculated so many times in the past few years. Had this diner been installed in a place where land is more expensive than as in rural NH — say, in a city where every aspect of setting up a diner costs more, one should add another $300K — $400K to the pot. Alas, once again we’re at the magic $1.4 — $1.5 million figure we now quote. As it is, the $1.1 million outlay fig for a 45 – 70 seat diner is an unsustainable scenario in 2010.