The Rise And Fall Of The American Diner : Business Insider

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?