WEST ORANGE, NJ — The lights have gone out at yet another of New Jersey’s iconic 24-hour diners, with the Americana Diner in West Orange closing its doors for good after more than a decade in business.
The diner officially ceased operations on March 3 after 12 years of serving customers around the clock. “We very much appreciate all of your patronage over the past 12 years!” a statement on the diner’s website announced. “The Americana Diner has been permanently closed.”
Key Points:
- Americana Diner in West Orange permanently closed on March 3
- No reason was given for the closure after 12 years in operation
- At least seven longtime New Jersey diners have shut down since 2022
No explanation was offered for the sudden closure, marking the latest in a growing list of once-beloved diners vanishing across the state. Pandemic lockdowns in 2020 started the downward trend, but even years later, many eateries never fully recovered.
In 2024, the Diamond Diner in Hainesport and Starview Diner in Somerdale closed. The prior year saw the Red Lion Diner in Southampton, Empire Diner in Parsippany, and Cherry Hill Diner all shut their doors. The Marlton Diner in Marlton and the landmark Mastoris Diner in Bordentown closed in 2022.
Known for their neon signs, bottomless coffee, and all-night menus, New Jersey diners have long been woven into the state’s cultural fabric. But one by one, these institutions are disappearing.
Another neon landmark dims as Jersey’s round-the-clock diner tradition continues to fade into memory.