Diner opens for business

SPARTA — The newest (old) eatery in town is quickly becoming a favorite as a steady stream of hungry customers have been flowing through the doors of the newly remodeled and expanded Sparta Classic Diner. The landmark re-opened its doors on Thursday, July 12. Since the 1960s the restaurant has been in its location on Woodport Rd., across from the Theatre Centre, and was known just as The Sparta Diner. The old building had fallen into disrepair and the flailing business closed two years ago.

A new life Enter the Kontolios brothers, (John, Steve, and Dimitri), owners of two other successful diners in Tenafly and Northvale. The brothers bought the building last summer and completely gutted and re-built it, including an expanded kitchen, larger seating areas, more parking, and even an outdoor patio for fair-weather dining. The restaurant has now been re-christened The Sparta Classic Diner, and is on track to become a new Sparta tradition. The multi-page menu includes everything from breakfast all day, to salads, home-made soups, sandwiches, steaks, and seafood. Steve Kontolios said the restaurant currently employees around 25 people and more may be added in the future. The new employees have been training and learning the ropes of their jobs and are now ready to handle the tables that seem to remain full around the clock. Kontolios said, “We are very happy to be here.” Apparently, quite a few others are happy as well. He said more than 3,000 patrons have already sampled something at the diner over the past two weeks. The diner’s official ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Wednesday, July 18 and was attended by the Kontolios brothers, their mother Sophia, Mayor Jerry Murphy, and Councilwoman Molly Whilesmith. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week from 7 a.m. until midnight,