Beloved NJ Diner 'Forced' To Close After 83 Years

WESTVILLE, NJ — A well-known South Jersey diner will permanently close after 83 years — and not by choice, according to Gateway Diner ownership.

The Gateway Diner in Westville will shutter at 9 p.m. Sunday. The business must close because of the state's use of eminent domain in its Route 47 bridge-replacement project.

"We are being forced to close our business," ownership said Thursday on social media. "Every sacrifice and attempt has been made to keep our doors open, especially for our loyal employees and customers."

Hundreds of people responded to the post with sadness and fond memories.

"I'm almost in tears... I was so happy working here in high school and during my early college years," one commenter said. "I had lots of laughter and tears here, and this place taught me valuable serving skills. The owners and management treated me very well here."

"So sorry to hear this," another reply said. "The Gateway Diner has been our family's favorite go to place to eat for many years. The atmosphere epitomized a Jersey Diner and we loved that!"

The restaurant goes back to 1940, originally opening as Joe's Diner and then becoming Joe's No. 1 Diner. Frank D'Amico, the business's former operator, entered the diner industry after returning from World War II. When he retired, the business became Mrs. Lu's Jumbo Wok, according to the Society for Commerical Archeology.

The Gateway Diner came to be in the early 1990s, after Ted Poulos and George Frangos took on ownership with their brothers-in-law Angelo and Nick Horiates.

The diner, located by the landmark Westville Water Tower, gets its name from its location in the borough that's been called "the Gateway to South Jersey."

State officials are in the midst of replacing the Route 47 and Route 130 bridges over Big Timber Creek, which were respectively built in 1934 and 1928.

Another longtime diner in South Jersey also abruptly closed recently. Last month, the Red Lion Diner — at the Red Lion Circle that intersects Routes 206 and 70 in Southampton — shuttered after 50 years in business. Read more: Longtime Burlington County Diner Closes Abruptly

The Gateway Diner is located at 106 Broadway, Westville.