RoadsideOnline

Aside from the good news written here, there's the "Oh oh" factor to consider. What will the currently pristine Colonial Diner look like after the owners triple its size?

The Colonial Diner in Bergen County, New Jersey. Possible Lou-Roc candidate?

As South Bergen weathers the effects of the nation’s longest, deepest recession since the 1930s, at least one type of business seems to be thriving. Diners, a South Bergen staple since at least the 1950s, are not only weathering the economic storm, they’re thriving in it.

As media reports note the reluctance to go out to eat on the part of the American people, two South Bergen diners are undergoing renovations and the rest are doing at least as well as they had been prior to the recession and, in some cases, even better.

Both the Schuyler and Colonial diners originated in Kearny and were moved to Lyndhurst by truck between the 1940s and 1950s and, still thriving, have begun renovations this year.

The Schuyler Diner on Schuyler Avenue, after having been closed for about two years, is undergoing renovations and, essentially, unveiling a brand new diner. Developer Nat Greco, a North Arlington native, is redeveloping the property while business owner Peter Phaff will take over operations once it reopens.

Greco believes people who are reluctant to go out to eat are avoiding fancy restaurants and eating out economically. "Obviously, it’s like anything else. McDonald’s is doing terrific," said Greco. "The families still like to take people out."

Read the rest of the story by clicking here.

Photo by Brian Lemaster

New York, New York -- Chelsea’s iconic Empire Diner, the silver railcar-style restaurant that has stood at the corner of W. 22nd St. and 10th Ave. since 1976, may stop serving up its trademark, round-the-clock grub if the current owner can’t negotiate a new lease.

A picturesque place to grab an early breakfast (or a late-night snack after hitting the clubs), the Empire has become a neighborhood mainstay featured in countless films, television shows and in the opening credits of “Saturday Night Live.”

With its lease expiring on Dec. 31, the current owners may still be able to ink a new lease—or the space will likely go to a new tenant.

“We are still negotiating with the landlord,” said Empire owner Renata Gonzalez, who would not elaborate on the ongoing discussions, but said she was “very hopeful” a deal would be struck. “Hopefully you’ll see us here for many more years.”

Click here to read more about this story.

The news that the Miss Adams was once again bought by someone as a real estate investment hardly eases our minds about the future of one-time treasure. Maybe the Segala's can just rent the diner out to the woman that Jae Chung kicked out before he abandoned his folly. (Thanks to Joe Manning for the tip)

By Ryan Hutton, North Adams Transcript

ADAMS -- One of the town's icons has a new owner after the Miss Adams Diner was sold at auction Monday morning.

Paul and Jennifer Segala, the owners of Steepleview Realty, purchased the building for $85,000 at an auction held by Berkshire Bank. The building went up for sale after the former owner, Jae Chung, breached his mortgage agreement with the bank.

Jennifer Segala said the pair bought the building for the real estate and would be looking for someone else to operate the business.

"We want someone who's interested in opening up a nice restaurant here," she said. "I'm in it for the real estate, I am not a restaurateur. The building is in very good condition. The bank took very good care of it. It's been cleaned out and [is] ready for an operational business."

Read the entire story by clicking here.

Sometimes the little guy prevails, but it's a tough row to hoe. If you want to go into the restaurant business, maybe it's a good idea to do a little time at law school while you're at it.

As light on his feet as the prizefighter he once was, Bill Connell moves quickly around his Carpinteria hot dog stand, jabbing hot sausages, whipping Monster Dogs into buns, and boasting about the recent knockout he scored against state tax officials.

"They told me the law didn't mean what it said in plain language, and I told them: 'Are you kidding me? I was educated in Catholic schools! I know what the law says!' "

For 16 years, Connell sparred with the state Board of Equalization over the interpretation of an 1872 statute exempting street peddlers who are disabled veterans from paying various taxes. This morning, he'll celebrate his victory by giving away hot dogs and carving up sheet cakes decorated with the Stars and Stripes. Politicians who supported Connell's cause will speechify on a platform set up at his Surf Dog stand, a cart commanding an ocean view that would be the envy of any five-star hotel.

"This was a real David-and-Goliath struggle, and Bill never gave up," said state Sen. Jeff Denham (R-Atwater), chairman of the Senate Veteran Affairs Committee. "It's an emotional issue for him and it's an emotional issue for all veterans."

Read the entire story at the L.A. Times site.

Paramus, New Jersey – A multi-faceted, creative preservation movement is underway by the Committee To Save The Forum Diner, to spare the historic Forum Diner (211 East State Route 4, Paramus, NJ) from demolition, and is calling upon parties of interest to come forward ASAP, and spare this gem from oblivion. Shortly after the diner’s former owners retired in 2007, Kevin Ormes’ Jeep 17 dealership was slated to rise on premise, but has since fell through. As a result, there are more preservation options than before, but time is of the essence for a diner attributed with a “series of firsts.” Reopening and restoring the Forum Diner to its former glory would become a dream come true to devoted fans, on the basis of memories made within its walls and its unique architectural style for a diner. It merits a new lease on life, so future generations can have a chance too.

An update about the Cheyenne Diner from Michael Perlman

NEW YORK, NY (Sept 16, 2009) – NYC’s historic Cheyenne Diner (411 9th Ave & 33rd St) will be granted a new lease on life, and began its long-awaited move to Alabama on the evening of Monday, Sept 14, 2009, and the 2nd section will be transported on Wed, Sept 16th around 11 PM (Call Perlman for time info). Since the Cheyenne’s dimensions are 15 ft x 96 ft (2,000 sq ft), the diner will be transported via flatbed in 2 sections to Alabama, with the expertise of Rigger Mel Brandt of M&M Rigging of PA, who transported 50 diners countrywide (including a role in NY’s historic Moondance Diner to LaBarge, WY in Aug 2007). Over the last few weeks, the concrete surrounding the diner was broken & the diner was cut in half. Devoted patrons, Committee members, and passersby will now have a rare opportunity to witness “history in the making” as hydraulic jacks will be installed underneath the Cheyenne Diner’s 2 sections, rolled forward to the curb on i-beams, and hoisted up onto a flatbed.