Shuttered Bendix Diner Owner Vows To Reopen After Forced Closure
The landmark Bendix Diner on Route 17 in Bergen County, was shut for violations. It’s fans are calling for it to reopen. (Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)
From Patch: BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — John Diakakis, the co-owner of the 78-year-old Bendix Diner in Bergen County, said he’s doing everything in his power to reopen the popular eatery after town officials shut it down on Friday.
Diakakis, who is blind, acknowledged Wednesday that the diner was shut due to longtime problems with the fire suppression system. He said his mother — the former owner — was sick last year, and after her death in November, it was difficult to fix the issues in time.
“I worked every single day up until her services,” Diakakis told Patch on Wednesday. “I just felt kind of lost Friday when they came with the tape and everything like that.”
Iconic Pittsburg restaurant closes
Norma Hiatt and Susy Hammons find the door locked at Harry’s Café, Thursday. The two have met every Thursday for lunch for the past 20 years, frequently at this iconic Pittsburg restaurant. The owners announced the restaurant’s closing abruptly, Thursday. JOSH LETNER/ THE MORNING SUN
From The Morning Sun: PITTSBURG, Kan. — This week, the owners of Harry’s Cafe had to make a painful decision. After struggling to keep prices low and the doors open, the iconic Pittsburg restaurant has closed.
For 87 years, the old-style diner has been serving home-cooked comfort meals to generations of familiar faces, but Wednesday, Jan. 15, was the last day that regulars could enjoy a hot cup of coffee, a warm cinnamon roll or a slice of homemade pie.
Harry’s Cafe employees were the first to say that while the food was exceptional, what made Harry’s special was the people.
“It wasn’t just a restaurant, it was a full family,” Manager Killashandra Nichols said.
Radio documentary explores lingering loss of beloved Sunnyside joint Alpha Donuts
Alpha Donuts (Photo by Michael Dorgan)
From the Sunnyside Post: QUEENS, NY — Over a year after neighborhood institution Alpha Donuts abruptly shuttered on Queens Boulevard, a Sunnyside resident explored the lingering loss of the old-school coffee shop and the impact of losing beloved neighborhood institutions.
Claire Kinnen, a student at Hunter College’s Integrated Media Arts Graduate Program who has lived in Sunnyside for seven years, studied the lasting legacy of Alpha Donuts one year after its closure in a radio documentary.
The coffee shop, which closed suddenly on June 28, 2023, was located a few feet from the Sunnyside Arch on Queens Boulevard and known for its donuts and greasy breakfasts. Alpha Donuts’ late opening hours also made it a popular hang-out location for local cabbies working night shifts.
Sunken Gardens – Old Florida Is Alive and Well
Entrance to the Sunken Gardens (Photo: Gerry Barker)
From Splash Magazines: On the wall of my study is a large, 4 by 5-foot historical map of “Old Florida.” Our granddaughter, Cate, who loves maps, once told us after seeing it, “She wanted to go to Old Florida.” While we don’t have a time machine, you can, in a sense, have that experience.
Nothing defined “Old Florida” more than its roadside attractions: Reptile farms, alligator wrestling, mermaid shows — most are long gone. But one attraction that is still going strong after almost a hundred years is Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg. We were there on American Cruise Lines’ 8-Day Florida Gulf Coast & Keys cruise, on their newest small ship, American Legend
Historic Salt Lake City Union Pacific Railroad Station transformed into luxury hotel
Courtesy HKS
From Building Design + Construction: Asher Adams, a reimagining of the historic Salt Lake City Union Pacific Railroad Station into a modern luxury hotel, opened in early November. With 225 guestrooms, marrying history with contemporary elegance, the facility links the city’s downtown core with the entertainment district and offers stunning views of the Wasatch Mountains.
The original 48,500 sf Union Pacific Depot, built in 1908, was meticulously preserved, honoring the station’s historical significance while introducing a new eight-story guestroom tower that complements the existing structure.
Couple rescues vintage 1951 tin diner to build ‘dream restaurant’ in Cayuga County
This diner was lifted and loaded on Nov. 20, 2024, transported from Marcy to Fair Haven, N.Y. on Nov. 21 and placed on its new foundation on Nov. 22. (Joe Gregg)
From Syracuse.com: FAIR HAVEN, N.Y. — Joe Gregg and Kristina Brewster always had a thing for old metal diners. You know, the ones that look like train cars or trolleys that function as roadside eateries where history is served alongside the specials of the day.
So last fall, when Brewster’s son’s girlfriend told her about an old tin diner she saw for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Marcy (Oneida County), the couple figured it was now or never.
They jumped in, bought the shuttered stainless steel diner, and hauled it 90 miles away to Fair Haven in Cayuga County