Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://ar-c.org/video/JLawPLvMeMN.html Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter The Rise And Fall Of The American Diner [R9qawA4j3SF] Health Updated on August 06, 2026 EDT — Published on August 06, 2026 EDT 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? Read "I've been in the same job for 14 years. When I broke my tibia, my boss came to my house and brought me food and money" — an interview with one of Summit Diner's employees: Read "I run a nearly 100-year-old New Jersey diner. I won't serve avocados on my menu": 00:00 Introduction 1:13 NJ’s Busiest Diner: Tops 2:32 History of Tops Diner 4:13 Tops Kitchen Behind the Scenes 5:12 Disco Fries 6:10 The Rise of Diners in America 9:25 The Fall of American Diners? 11:52 NJ’s Best Diner: Summit 14:27 Taylor Ham Roll 16:01 No to Avocado! 18:05 Summit Diner’s Importance in the Community // The Charm // Character of the Town 19:03 Why Are Diners Struggling? 20:57 The Next Generation of Diners 26:00 The Future of Diners 26:51 Credits _____________________________________ #NewJersey #diners #restaurants #bigbusiness MORE BIG BUSINESS VIDEOS: Inside The Billion-Dollar Hot Wheels Boom Fueled By Adults How Radioactive Shrimp May Have Gotten Into America The Secrets Behind America's No. 1 Hot Sauce Business Insider tells you all you need to know about business, finance, tech, retail, and more. Visit our homepage for the top stories of the day: Business Insider on Facebook: Business Insider on Instagram: Business Insider on Twitter: Business Insider on Snapchat: Business Insider on TikTok: Diners Are Dying. How Is One Of America’s Largest Thriving? | Big Business | Business Insider LdZgSftU0go bKvJTUkdYpO zEsDsQSPE3M tXgWCsth8Sw OzLLzbYWMVe 0tpuhJZuaCN 4V4JOlvPNXa
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? Read "I've been in the same job for 14 years. When I broke my tibia, my boss came to my house and brought me food and money" — an interview with one of Summit Diner's employees: Read "I run a nearly 100-year-old New Jersey diner. I won't serve avocados on my menu": 00:00 Introduction 1:13 NJ’s Busiest Diner: Tops 2:32 History of Tops Diner 4:13 Tops Kitchen Behind the Scenes 5:12 Disco Fries 6:10 The Rise of Diners in America 9:25 The Fall of American Diners? 11:52 NJ’s Best Diner: Summit 14:27 Taylor Ham Roll 16:01 No to Avocado! 18:05 Summit Diner’s Importance in the Community // The Charm // Character of the Town 19:03 Why Are Diners Struggling? 20:57 The Next Generation of Diners 26:00 The Future of Diners 26:51 Credits _____________________________________ #NewJersey #diners #restaurants #bigbusiness MORE BIG BUSINESS VIDEOS: Inside The Billion-Dollar Hot Wheels Boom Fueled By Adults How Radioactive Shrimp May Have Gotten Into America The Secrets Behind America's No. 1 Hot Sauce Business Insider tells you all you need to know about business, finance, tech, retail, and more. Visit our homepage for the top stories of the day: Business Insider on Facebook: Business Insider on Instagram: Business Insider on Twitter: Business Insider on Snapchat: Business Insider on TikTok: Diners Are Dying. How Is One Of America’s Largest Thriving? | Big Business | Business Insider LdZgSftU0go bKvJTUkdYpO zEsDsQSPE3M tXgWCsth8Sw OzLLzbYWMVe 0tpuhJZuaCN 4V4JOlvPNXa