Iconic NJ diner getting a facelift

The Medport Diner on Route 70 in Medford has been there for nearly half a century. It’s been there since the 1970s Abscam sting and the Carter administration.

Recently it closed down and will remain so for months. The owners explained why on social media.

Medport Diner via Facebook

“Medport Diner will be temporarily closing on June 14 for renovations. The project is expected to take approximately six to eight months as we work to improve our diner and better serve our guests.”

They said what you would expect. The renovations were being made to improve the diner and better serve their customers. But will it cost something?

Sure, diners have to stay viable. More and more are closing and few remain true to the 24-hour model.

a person cooking in a kitchen

But my hope is it still feels like a diner when they’re done. Remember the mixed reviews the Tick Tock Diner received when it reopened after extensive remodeling in 2019? When they start serving French press coffee with terrazzo flooring it loses that classic diner feel.

That’s what I worry about when any Jersey diner renovates. Will it remain a diner or become just another restaurant with the word diner still hanging on the building?

I don’t want the booths to look like they belong in a luxury hotel. I don’t want a minimalist interior with exposed brick, designer lighting and a menu where the cheapest sandwich requires a small personal loan.

a cup of ice cream with a cherry on top

It’s a diner.

There should be a little wear. There should be some personality. Some history. There should be a counter. There should be people drinking coffee who have been sitting there long enough to qualify for squatter’s rights.

I want the paper placemats with local business ads printed on them to remain. I want that bowl of unwrapped mints to still be at the front register. I want the toothpicks.

a group of cans on a counter

A jukebox right in the booth would be amazing even if it no longer is hooked up. And the bill better damn well not be in a leather fold to be paid at the table. You need to bring it up to the cash register. That’s a diner.

New Jersey diners are disappearing, and part of what makes the survivors special is that they don’t feel like every other restaurant. So go ahead and give Medport a makeover.

Just don’t renovate the diner out of the diner.

Opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Jeff Deminski only.

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