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New Jersey, often dubbed the "Diner Capital of the World," boasts a unique culinary and cultural legacy that revolves around these iconic eateries. With over 500 diners still operating across the state, more than in any other place in the United States, New Jersey's diners are more than just places to grab a bite—they are symbols of American optimism, community hubs, and testaments to immigrant ingenuity. These prefabricated, chrome-clad establishments, reminiscent of railroad cars, have dotted the Garden State's highways and suburban streets for over a century, serving everything from endless cups of coffee to hearty comfort foods like burgers, pancakes, and disco fries. But why New Jersey? The answer lies in a perfect storm of historical factors: superior road infrastructure, a dense working-class population, proximity to major cities like New York and Philadelphia, and a wave of entrepreneurial immigrants, particularly from Greece, who turned diners into family-run...

The Garden State is about to welcome back a cherished piece of its diner legacy. The revival of Mr. G’s Diner in Paterson, a classic stainless-steel, prefabricated diner built in New Jersey, marks a triumphant return for entrepreneurs Vaughn and Marnie McKoy and an exciting venture for local businessman Yaakoub Hijazi. A Storied Past Crafted in 1940 by the Paramount Dining Car Company in nearby Haledon, Mr. G’s Diner began as Pickering’s Grill, sporting the iconic rounded glass brick corners of Paramount’s design. In 1954, it became Marty and Phil’s Diner under new ownership by the Gold brothers. Over the decades, it saw multiple transformations, operating as the 10th Avenue Diner, the Egg Plate (distinct from the Egg Platter Diner), and the Pancake and Smokehouse Grill. In 2008, civil rights activist Russell “G” Graddy (1931–2021) purchased the diner, renaming it Mr. G’s. A Paterson icon, Graddy, originally from Wrightsville, GA, played a key role in organizing Dr. Martin Luther King ...

 Clix's was a beloved, long-closed restaurant in Wyckoff, New Jersey, known for its Texas Weiners. It was an iconic hot dog stand that operated on Goffle Road for more than 50 years.  About the restaurant: Founder: Clarence "Clix" Pruiksma Sr., an Army cook during WWII, opened the restaurant in 1949. Signature dish: The restaurant's signature sauce for its Texas Weiners was a family secret. Closure: Clix's closed down when Clarence Sr. retired, and his family did not want to continue the New Jersey operation. Continuation in Florida: One of Pruiksma's grandsons, Christopher J. Arnoldi, now owns and operates a new Clix's brand in Tampa, Florida. Location: While the address was technically in Wyckoff, some people considered it to be in Hawthorne, due to its location on Goffle Road near the town line.  Clixes Texas Weiner Pint Glass

Bender's Pork Store and Garden State Tool and Supply Co. are visible in this picture taken in Paterson, NJ in 1954 Available on a Coffee Mug

  Location and Timeline Address : 899 Market Street, Paterson, New Jersey. Establishment : Opened in 1932. Active Period : Listed in the 1940 Paterson city directory but absent from the 1930, 1950, and 1960 directories, suggesting it operated primarily in the 1930s and early 1940s. Later Use of Site : The same address hosted Lou’s Diner starting in 1946, indicating a possible transition or replacement at the location. Historical Significance Curzon's Diner is frequently highlighted in exhibits celebrating Paterson's pivotal role in the evolution of the American diner. Paterson, known as the "Diner Capital of the World," was home to major manufacturers like Silk City Diner (founded in the 1920s), which produced prefabricated diner cars shipped nationwide. Curzon's exemplifies the early "lunch wagon" style diners that dotted industrial areas like Paterson's silk mills district, serving quick, affordable meals to factory workers. Key Mentions ...

New Jersey, often dubbed the "Diner Capital of the World," boasts over 600 diners today—a density unmatched anywhere else, with roughly one for every 16,000 residents. This legacy isn't just about endless coffee refills or encyclopedic menus; it's a story of industrial innovation, immigrant grit, and cultural glue, woven into the fabric of a state sandwiched between New York and Philadelphia. From horse-drawn lunch wagons to gleaming stainless-steel behemoths, NJ's diners evolved from roadside necessities into symbols of mid-20th-century Americana, serving 2.4 million customers daily nationwide by 1951, with the Garden State as the epicenter. The tale begins in 1872, when Walter Scott parked a horse-drawn wagon in Providence, Rhode Island, hawking sandwiches and pie to late-night workers. By the early 1900s, these "lunch cars" rolled into New Jersey, fueled by the state's dense population, superior highways, and rail hubs that left factory shifts hun...

  Straddling the frenetic flow of Route 46 in Parsippany, New Jersey—where the Garden State Parkway's ramps disgorge commuters like a mechanical exodus—the Empire Diner at 1315 US Highway 46 stood as a stainless-steel survivor for over 75 years, its neon glow a defiant pulse in Morris County's commercial thicket. Originally christened the Par-Troy Diner around 1947, this prefabricated powerhouse, likely a Silk City or early Kullman model, arrived amid the postwar diner boom, its curved chrome facade evoking the optimism of tailfin Chevys and Levittown blueprints. Reborn as the Empire in the 1970s—perhaps a nod to imperial portions or the Shizas family's Greek heritage—it anchored Parsippany's bustling township of 55,000, a diverse hub woven from corporate parks, Smith Field's soccer fields, and the shadow of the old Par-Troy airport. For truckers dodging the Turnpike's tolls, families fleeing Montville's cul-de-sacs, and night owls from nearby Rockaway's...