STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Jerry’s Pancake House closed in January 2025 after 70 years in business. Z-One followed that June, ending a 17-year run. And in early January 2026, Dakota Diner shut its doors after roughly four decades. Three long-established diners disappearing within a year naturally raises questions—not about collapse, but about what this moment says about the borough’s shifting dining landscape and the future of the diner genre itself.
The borough now has 18 diners, down from 21.
With their decades-long runs, diners have served as reliable neighborhood touchpoints. Some continue to thrive, others are adjusting to new dining habits, and a few now remain only in memory. Together, they offer a snapshot of how Staten Islanders eat, gather and keep their routines, from late-night visits to early-bird breakfasts…