Hey, “Have you heard?” The vintage Roadside Diner in Wall Township, now 76 years old, reopened under new ownership with a fresh, renewed look on July 18. It was a grand soft opening; a positive development for the New Jersey diner circuit, in contrast to the ongoing “diner downturn” in recent years. It’s a gem that’s been polished for a next generation of customers.
As first reported by Jersey Bites last April, Nick and Maria Kallas, the proud owners of the award-winning Broad Street Diner in Keyport, are the new operators of the modular, prefabricated, factory-built Roadside, saving an iconic piece of New Jersey culture and industrial history. The diner has a historic lineage, as it was the 32nd diner built and delivered in 1949 by Silk City Diners, a long-gone division of the old Paterson Vehicle Company.
The Roadside opened its doors at 7 a.m.. By 9 a.m., the parking lot was filled with numerous cars and a special visitor: an impeccably preserved, battery-operated Detroit Electric vehicle, built by the Anderson Electric Car Company in 1914.
Families and individuals sauntered into the diner, sitting on restored booths and round stools, enjoying a host of delicious dishes, such as waffles with berries and bananas, a Polish power bowl, egg platters with bacon, pancakes, and a most impressive smoked beef brisket hash bowl, topped with two eggs over easy.
The first customer to arrive was Gary from Old Bridge, a Kallas family friend and fan of the Broad Street Diner. Seated at the counter, he proudly proclaimed that he’s feeling happy and healthy, having recovered from three strokes.
Also in attendance was Dana Schaeffer of Little Falls, the founder of “Saving NJ Diners,” a website dedicated to “honoring the past, supporting the present, and fueling the future of NJ’s iconic diners.”
A novelty attraction just inside the front door was a classic, mechanical, upright jukebox —a somewhat temperamental contraption that housed a collection of Rock and Roll 45 RPM records. The first selection of the day was “Have You Heard,” a 1963 release by The Duprees, a pre-Beatles Doo Wop vocal group that hailed from Jersey City.
New Jersey Rock legends Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi have utilized the Roadside as an artistic backdrop (Bruce, as part of a Jersey shore montage for his 2007 bittersweet video “Girls in Their Summer Clothes”; while Jon and his band posed for a photo shoot at the Roadside for his October 1994 greatest hits album, “Cross Roads”).
The diner retains its original stainless steel charm and intricate tile floor—a signature Silk City design element. An outdoor patio offers an al fresco dining experience for those who enjoy watching cars on the adjacent Route 33/34 highway. A painted, black-and-white outdoor wall displays an homage to the diner’s Silk City legacy.
The Gerakaris family previously ran the diner, retiring after 27 years. They posted a fond online farewell to customers last March. Barry M. Sabin, a retired partner in a Washington, D.C. law firm, is the landlord of the property upon which the Roadside sits. Sabin, interviewed last April, said he’s honor-bound to keep the diner in place, a solemn vow he made to his parents, Milton and Shirley Sabin, who purchased the property in the mid-1970s.
The reopening of the Roadside reinvigorates a beloved venue for Jersey diner goers and foodie fans. The reopening also became a Kallas family affair, with Nick and Maria working alongside sons Yiani, Billy, and Evan. (Evan showed up a bit late for the photo op; no worries.)
The Duprees, in their hit tune “Have You Heard,” provided sentimental background music and vocals for customers on a sparkling Friday summer morning. “Rumors come and go, still I’d like to know, if it’s true, won’t you tell me…” We can tell you that, yes, the “rumors” are true: the Roadside Diner is open for business and under new management.
The Roadside Diner
5016 NJ-33/34
Wall Township, NJ 07727
(732) 919-1199
website
