On Saturday, March 12, a large fire broke out in downtown South Orange, NJ. Thanks to the incredible response from our fire department, the fire was contained and no one was injured. However, the damage caused by the fire and the water used to put it out has had a significant impact on Chris’s Family Diner, a longtime local favorite and cornerstone of our community.
For 25 years, Chris’s has been more than just a diner. It is a place where neighbors gather, families connect, and so many of us have shared everyday moments over coffee and meals. Chris, Maria and the team have shown up for this community year after year, and now it is our turn to show up for them. The diner is facing damage to its space, equipment, and operations, along with the very real impact of being closed for an unknown period of time.
I personally have been a customer for almost 15 years. My young son and I enjoyed talking while he devoured chocolate chip pancakes. Just last week we ate lunch there during his college spring break. It is the type of place that helps someone feel "home."
The funds raised here will help Chris, Maria and the team repair and restore the diner, replace damaged equipment and supplies, support staff who rely on the diner for their income, and recover from lost days, weeks, or potentially months of business. Chris’s Family Diner has been there for all of us for over two decades. Let’s help make sure it can reopen and continue serving this community for years to come. Any support, whether it is a donation or sharing this page, will make a real difference.
For 25 years, Chris’s has been more than just a diner. It is a place where neighbors gather, families connect, and so many of us have shared everyday moments over coffee and meals. Chris, Maria and the team have shown up for this community year after year, and now it is our turn to show up for them. The diner is facing damage to its space, equipment, and operations, along with the very real impact of being closed for an unknown period of time.
I personally have been a customer for almost 15 years. My young son and I enjoyed talking while he devoured chocolate chip pancakes. Just last week we ate lunch there during his college spring break. It is the type of place that helps someone feel "home."
The funds raised here will help Chris, Maria and the team repair and restore the diner, replace damaged equipment and supplies, support staff who rely on the diner for their income, and recover from lost days, weeks, or potentially months of business. Chris’s Family Diner has been there for all of us for over two decades. Let’s help make sure it can reopen and continue serving this community for years to come. Any support, whether it is a donation or sharing this page, will make a real difference.