Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill was in Upper Montclair Monday afternoon to bestow honors as Montclair Diner hosted Gus Makris Day to celebrate the Makris family’s 20 years of service at the Montclair Diner.
The retirement celebration for Makris, who was joined by wife Maria, was attended by First Ward Councior Bill Hurlock, Montclair Mayor Robert Jackson, Fourth Ward Councilor Dr. Renee Baskerville and Montclair-at-Large Councilor Bob Russo.
New owners Gus Moya and Eliot Mosby were also on hand to celebrate Makris’ retirement. Montclair Diner made news earlier this month Whoopi Goldberg, who stops by for her favorite chicken and waffles dish. Moya and Mosby served Goldberg the dish on The View.
Makris has seen a lot during his 20 years of serving the Montclair community. In 2010 he sat down with Baristanet and shared everything from his experience growing up in Greece, to moving to America and then finding work in a Manhattan diner. Makris ultimately became a diner owner in New Jersey, first in Irvington, Union and Newark, before landing n Montclair. Markis even recalls serving Montclair’s infamous Russian spies.
In April 2011, an electrical fire closed the Char Broil. By September, the restaurant was like new again, with a new name, the Montclair Diner.
Photos: Michael Reitman