New Jersey is the diner capital of America, boasting more than any other US state. But even in New Jersey, traditional, chrome-clad diners seem to be disappearing. Rising food costs, labor shortages, and competition from sit-down chains like Cracker Barrel and IHOP have all made it tough to be in the business. Yet, Tops, the state’s busiest diner, still serves 13,000 people a week. And Summit Diner, one of the state’s oldest, still slings out pancakes and Taylor Ham rolls from its tiny grill. So what happened to the all-American diner? And how, against steep odds, have Tops and Summit kept the Big Business of diners alive?

Read "I've been in the same job for 14 years. When I broke my tibia, my boss came to my house and brought me food and money" — an interview with one of Summit Diner's employees: https://trib.al/4CQB0Bz

Read "I run a nearly 100-year-old New Jersey diner. I won't serve avocados on my menu": https://trib.al/oEFCjRf

00:00 Introduction
1:13 NJ’s Busiest Diner: Tops
2:32 History of Tops Diner
4:13 Tops Kitchen Behind the Scenes
5:12 Disco Fries
6:10 The Rise of Diners in America
9:25 The Fall of American Diners?
11:52 NJ’s Best Diner: Summit
14:27 Taylor Ham Roll
16:01 No to Avocado!
18:05 Summit Diner’s Importance in the Community // The Charm // Character of the Town
19:03 Why Are Diners Struggling?
20:57 The Next Generation of Diners
26:00 The Future of Diners
26:51 Credits

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#NewJersey #diners #restaurants #bigbusiness

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Diners Are Dying. How Is One Of America’s Largest Thriving? | Big Business | Business Insider