Restaurants & Bars
Bendix Diner In North Jersey May Be Saved From Closing By New Owner
A man who owns a diner in Queens may save the Bendix Diner in North Jersey. Here's what he and the current owner say.
BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — The iconic Bendix Diner in North Jersey, which was closed by the town of Hasbrouck Heights in January due to safety violations, may get new life thanks to a potential buyer.
Restaurant owner Peter Meskouris announced on social media last month that he was in the process of buying the iconic diner — located at the crossroads of two major roads through Bergen County — and would soon begin renovations.
In January, John Diakakis, who co-owns the 78-year-old restaurant with family members, told Patch that he was doing everything in his power to reopen the popular eatery after town officials shut it down.
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Diakakis — a single father who's legally blind — was the subject of a documentary in 2022 about his challenges and successes running the restaurant.
He acknowledged in January that the diner was shut due to longtime problems with the fire suppression system. His mother, the former owner, had gotten sick in 2024 and passed away at the end of the year, leaving Diakakis juggling multiple responsibilities.
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"I worked every single day up until her services," Diakakis said at the time. "I just felt kind of lost Friday when they came with the tape and everything like that."
Is Help On The Way?
Reached by phone on Wednesday, Meskouris, the potential new owner, hesitated to give details of the negotiations, indicating that the sale is not complete and that he's waiting for the the next steps. He declined to comment further.
His social media post last month, in a group for diner fans, indicated that he was about to begin renovations.
Meskouris owns the Jackson Hole diner in Queens with his brother. A report in April said the pair are hoping to save diners from closing.
Diakakis, reached by phone on Friday, also declined to comment on the potential sale until it was finalized. He said he'd give an update when there were new details to announce.
Help may come from another source.
Two New Jersey legislators have proposed a bill to try to help the state's diners stay in business.
The "Saving Our Diners and Protecting Our Past Act" would allow for a sales and use tax exemption and for tax credits for historic diners and restaurants included on an annual registry. (It can be found here.)
The recent losses of longtime Jersey diners, including the 85-year-old Americana in Jersey City in November, have made it clear that the industry is struggling.
Known For Classic Diners
Nearly anyone who's traveled through Bergen County has seen the Bendix, located at the crux of busy Route 17 and Williams Avenue in Hasbrouck Heights. During the day, truckers often filled the wide lot in front.
New Jersey is known for its classic diners. Because of the Garden State's location between New York City and Philadelphia, it was historically a popular place to build prefab diners.
The Bendix opened in 1947. It was named for the Bendix Corporation, which was influential in the area and had a plant nearby at Teterboro Airport.
Diakakis said in January, "What I hope can happen is that we can get this place up and running again. Maybe it's a pipe dream."
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