New Jersey Diners Struggle to Adapt

New Jersey touts an estimated 450 diners, more than any other U.S. state, but despite being such a big part of the state’s culture, many are closing, according to NPR.

Peter Sedereas, owner of Town Square Diner in Wharton, New Jersey, and leader of an unofficial coalition of New Jersey diners started during the pandemic, said that diners in the state struggled during the pandemic, and the ones that survived had to change how they operate.

"Our menus used to be 18 pages long. Now it's one page, front and back. We've become more efficient on our menu, which has helped us save on labor costs because… [it cuts] prep time. Labor costs increased so much. Minimum wage has doubled in the past five years. We've become more efficient in our staffing... it's harder to staff nowadays," said Sedereas.

With the pandemic, diner culture also shifted away from 24/7 operation with peak traffic on Fridays and Saturdays, according to the report. Sedereas said that the rise of rideshare apps means that people are being driven to bars and clubs and are now less likely to stop at a diner on the way home than if they were driving.

Sedereas also noted that diners have always been a family business, adding that many owners are selling their locations.

"Property values are very high, and diners are always at the best locations. In the city centers, on the busy highways, or on corners. And I think as the generations have gone on, the younger generations may not want to enter into the diner business. So the fathers, so to speak, are developing their land or selling their land to developers and getting large sums of money," said Sedereas. Full Story