Owner Of 2 Gloucester Twp. Diners Staying Afloat Amid Pandemic

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Nick Hionas has been navigating the coronavirus pandemic while operating two diners in Gloucester Township. He’s among the lucky restaurateurs who was able to keep both open for takeout and delivery, and was able to reopen inside in early September.

But like all business owners, there’s a bit of uncertainty to the whole situation.

“I got a PPP loan for both businesses, but I went through that pretty quick,” said Hionas, who owns the Lamp Post Diner and Meadows Diner. “Then I was able to get an EIDL loan. … So you’re incurring debt while you’re trying to keep your doors open.”

He said as he got to the end of his first loan, he began to wonder what the next step would be. Part of the return of indoor dining has been a guideline that businesses must keep the doors open when they are open and the air conditioning running two hours before they open and two hours after, for circulation purposes. This has an impact on the electric bill. Hionas said he’s thankful that he’s able to pay his bills as of now.

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Hionas owned Meadows Diner at 101 South Black Horse Pike and was looking to expand his operation. When the Lamp Post Diner became available down the street at 1378 Little Gloucester Road three years ago, he went ahead and bought that.

They both serve traditional diner food, but are different sizes and thus have different needs that Hionas has had to balance while capacity is limited for both establishments.

At the Lamp Post Diner, 25 percent indoor capacity means 140 people; at Meadows, that means 40. For Meadows, Hionas said they need to find a way to keep the outdoor tents set up as the weather turns cold.

“We need to find out about setting up heaters outside and parking is a concern,” Hionas said.
With the Lamp Post Diner, it’s more of a “wait-and-see approach.”

In March, non-essential businesses in New Jersey were told to close to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Restaurants were able to remain open for takeout and delivery, so Hionas kept both of his businesses running that way.

When restaurants in New Jersey were able to open outdoors, he set up that system at both diners. And when indoor dining resumed, customers were able to re-enter both Meadows and the Lamp Post.

During a news conference on Tuesday, Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr. said one had a wait of more than 45 minutes for outdoor seating, but he was able to go right inside and sit down.

Hionas said that when indoor dining first resumed, he saw the same thing, but it’s become more 50-50 in the last week to 10 days as people become more comfortable sitting inside. Both diners have plastic barriers and hand sanitizing stations set up, and diners are set up in every other booth for social distancing purposes.

He’s faced difficulties when it comes to staffing, as he estimates his staff is currently at about 60 percent. It’s also been a challenge to estimate when people will be coming in.

“The lunchtime rush is not as pronounced,” Hionas said. “You also usually get a pretty good idea of how you’re going to do at certain times of the year, but there’s a lot of uncertainty right now.”

Hionas eagerly anticipates an increase in indoor capacity to at least 50 percent, but said things are pretty steady for the moment.

“I want to thank my staff and customers for helping me keep the lights on,” Hionas said. “I truly appreciate everyone who’s coming through the door.”

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