South Jersey Diner Finally Reopens After 2-Year Delay

A beloved South Jersey diner, which first opened in 1959 but has been closed for over two years, announced it is finally open as of Monday, April 20th.

The newly renamed Jersey Diner, formerly the Malaga Diner, has been promising to reopen under new ownership since 2024, but apparently ran into renovation issues, which delayed the opening by two years.

Dear valued customers, after a two-year hiatus, we are open for service starting today. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who reached out via social media, called us on the phone, or stopped by to visit during this period. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you in the manner you truly deserve. Thank you once again.

 

After Delays, The Jersey Diner Has Reopened

In early November 2023, the Malaga Diner in Franklin Township posted on Facebook that it had been sold and would reopen under new ownership with a new name in spring 2024.

After a while, locals waiting for the reopening to happen got frustrated with the delay, as you see in this Facebook post from early 2025.

Two years and Jersey diner isn’t open yet. They need to take their sign down out front that reads ‘opening soon’!

The restaurant's new owner, Yilmaz Kangal, also owns the Millville Queen Diner in Millville and the Queen 2 Restaurant in Vineland, according to NJ.com.

He blamed the holdup on a demand for a new septic system for the business.

In January 2025, the diner posted on Facebook, "Announcement: NJ EPA recommended us to put in a new septic system. All the renovation is done inside the building. We have started the new project on the septic (system) and hopefully will open in 2 months. Sorry for the delay."

Almost a year later, the diner said that the project was proceeding nicely, and then, last month, posted on Facebook that they would announce an opening date shortly.

A Diner With a Long History

As 42 freewaycom noted in 2023, the Malaga Diner opened in 1959 on Harding Highway in Franklin, NJ, but was better known as “where Routes 40 and 47 Meet.”

And that is the same slogan that was used when the original (and smaller) Malaga diner opened in its current location back in 1959!  Yes, portions of the building have been at the intersection for almost 65 years!

But then, before that, the original diner building actually traces back to 1940 when it first opened as the Publix Diner, located in Vineland at the N.W. corner of 6th Street and Landis.

The Jersey Diner is open daily from 6 am to 11 pm.