Lou-Roc-ing the Mayfair

Published on Sunday, 20 September 2009 15:38

Written by The Plain Speaker

My worst thoughts have now been confirmed — the interior has suffered a great loss as well. Part of the Mayfair counter ripped out. Floor patched up with tile. New booths match ext. roof. Melrose is next.

Wow, do these guys have money to burn. Instead of just running these two diners well, they’ve run them down in only 2 – 3 years, after a half century of good management. Because of this, and due to their inept management, they’ve created the need to make major changes to the 55-year old diner as if the diner building is the problem. Funny that is. Jack Mulholland and his family ran the place exactly as it was, and from what I heard grossed $3M a year with people lined up out the door.

What is wrong with Greek diner operators? What is it in their makeup that makes them want to have 25 – 30 ft. high rooflines?!! Why? And if all you want is a 1999 NJ birthday cake diner monstrosity with 3-story glassblock vestibule, then just go buy one. There are many of that type already.

Does anyone have any idea where Jack is these days? If /when he sees what they’ve done, I’m sure there’ll be alot of pain. I imagine his daughter has reported on it all to him.

As for the timeline, it seems, based on the timestamp of the Flickr pic I saw, had I gone there as recently as April, 2009, the Mayfair may have either still looked the same as it used to, or the reno demo would have just begun. Seems the topper was added late-April — June, 2009.

If the Mayfair isn’t the Lou Roc winner for 2009, what else would it be? Reasonable to assume the Melrose will be next and suffer a similar fate. Very sad diner news.

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