10/22/2026
What a wonderful write-up by Tim Adriance about one of our favorite diners! This is what it's all about- having a place to go where you can talk to others in your community. We think that's what the real legacy of the American diner is. We're glad the Dumont Brothers Diner is keeping that tradition alive!
The oldest continuously operated diner in New Jersey! The well-known old Crystal Diner, at 45 West Madison Avenue, Dumont, has new owners – and a new life!! Pictured is the classic 1925 diner with a new paint job, and a new name “Dumont Brothers Diner.”
The diner is now operated by brothers Gus and John Grimanis, who are naturally from Greece. They have family connections with the folks at the Summit Diner, in Summit N.J. (another really old diner). And when the brothers found out that this diner was available, they jumped at the chance to operate the oldest diner in the state.
As you can tell from the interior photo, Gus and John have retained the interior look of the diner. Not much has changed at all. The collection of old-time memorabilia photos are still there – but now nicely framed and organized. The booths with the old tables are still there, the rotating stools are yet in use, and even the original cash register is retained as an artifact.
The only changes to the building itself are a new counter and new griddle. After years of meals the old Formica counter was becoming unsanitary (and it wasn’t even original). Gus stated he regretted having to replace the original griddle, but it wasn’t fully working, and the parts simply aren’t available anymore.
One thing that hasn’t changed here is that this diner is the real thing! This is not some pretentious want-to-be fancy restaurant diner. This is where you get good food, at a good price, with your neighbors. And even if you don’t know the person sitting nearby, you can become fast friends because the diner only seats 35 and being so small you can converse with people at the counter while sitting in a booth. This is a place where friendly owners and staff along with regular people interact. Not only good as a breakfast or lunch place – but it is a trip to old time real America where people interact and there is a sense of being together.
This diner is visible in a late 1930 aerial photograph, but it was there before that. The diner, according to Gus, who has done research, was made by the Jerry O’Mahony Diner Company, of Bayonne and later Elizabeth. The company made close to 2,000 diners between 1917 and 1952. There a quite a number of O’Mahony diners left standing, but this one, brought here in 1925, is really worth the visit!
Gus and John are keeping the Greek diner tradition alive, and they know what they are doing. The food is good and generous, and in addition to a full menu, there were even a number of specials (how much can one person eat at one time). The Dumont Brothers Diner is open seven days a week, from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and there is now a website (with lots of pictures) - https://www.dumontbrothersdiner.com/
When my wife and I went there for lunch yesterday, the place was packed (there was even a classic car parked out front). We ran into a neighbor who lives three doors down from us (and we don’t live in Dumont). And seated next to him at the counter was an old friend that I hadn’t seen in years. You really need to go as it’s like being in the America we thought was lost! – Tim Adriance
