HAINESPORT – A piece of South Jersey restaurant history will soon be gone.
Diamond Diner, which originated in Cherry Hill nearly 60 years ago, will close on March 3 at 1390 Route 38 in Hainesport, and will be renovated to reopen under new management and with a new name.
Diamond Diner, which has been owned and operated by the Diamantis family since 1967, including patriarch Gus Diamantis, will no longer exist. The diner has been leased out to Pandora HC LLC of Mount Holly, according to the Diamantis family. Pandora owns multiple other diners in South Jersey, including the Medport Diner location in Medford, and Pandora Diner locations in Cinnaminson, Springfield Township and Williamstown.
“After 57 years,” said Bill Patouhas, Gus Diamantis’ nephew, who helps manage Diamond Diner. “My uncle is a little bit older, 85 now, so it’s time for him to retire. It’s been leased by Pandora. Done deal. March 3, they take over. They’re going to renovate the place and it’ll probably take about two months and then they’ll reopen..”
Diamond Diner will be missed
Signs posted on the doors of the diner state: “The Diamantis Family. Established October 1967 will be closing March 3rd, 2024 and will be under NEW Management (Pandora). Renovations will take about two months. We like to THANK YOU all for all your patronage and will miss you!”
The original Diamond Diner was located in Cherry Hill at Route 70 and Grove Street for nearly 40 years. The diner was literally moved in pieces on nine trailers over to its current location in Hainesport and put back together. That location opened in 2007.
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On a recent Saturday morning, Diamond Diner was bustling with customers, including Steve Benjamin of Mount Laurel, who was on his way out of the door after his meal.
“Kind of bittersweet because I’ve been here forever so I’m going to miss these guys,” Benjamin said. “But I also know Pandora from their other locations and I think they’re pretty good. I think things probably will change from what I’m hearing in the wind. I know they’re going to be closed for two months for renovations so that must mean something.”
“This was physically moved, which is mindboggling to me. I think I was at the previous one, too. I know most of the people here. The wait staff, the owner Gus.”
Pat Austin of Hainesport was entering the diner for breakfast when he learned of the change. He wasn’t sure what to expect.
“I used to live a little closer and I used to come here a little more often than I have recently,” Austin said. “I can’t recall the last time I went to one of Pandora’s establishments. I was always happy when I came here, so I’ll miss the folks that serviced me here. Beyond that, I’m not sure what to expect, I’m not sure what to look forward to. Seems like it’s a sign of the times.”
Made to feel like a part of the family at Diamond Diner
Christos Papacristos has worked at Diamond Diner since 2019. He started as a server, became a cashier and host and after the height of the pandemic, moved to night shift cashier/manager.
“Gus is a hard boss to work for, but he’s a businessman that knows his business,” Papacristos said. “I'm very thankful to be working with Gus. After a while, out of respect, I've been calling him ‘Uncle Gus’. He makes me feel like part of the family. He made me a better person than I ever had been. Thank you for being my boss ‘Uncle Gus’. I will most definitely miss working with you! It's been a pleasure working with you.”
Patouhas said it does feel somewhat like the end of an era, but the family is not sad about it.
“I feel good because my uncle is a little older and he needs to relax and spend some time with the grandkids, take a vacation and go to Greece for the summer and relax,” Patouhas said.
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