An iconic Hoboken diner could be torn down to make room for a new apartment building.
The Malibu Diner has been located at the corner of 14th Street and Park Avenue in Hoboken for 80 years. But there is a proposal in place to knock the diner down and build a new, five-story apartment building. The idea is not sitting well with some city residents.
“It’s like a Hoboken staple … you see it when you first come in. It’s just Hoboken,” says resident Mandee Bellarosa.
Malibu Diner is one of the only 24-hour restaurants in the city.
“I have some late-night memories there actually, with my girlfriend,” says Brian Gahagan. “We went there on our second or third date after going out.”
But the owners of the diner have filed an application with the Hoboken Planning Board to demolish the diner and construct what the application calls a "high quality contemporary mixed-use building.” It would include 23 apartments, retails space and a restaurant, likely the diner reopened.
Some of the residents say that new development is beneficial for Hoboken, but also feel that tearing down a city stable could make the city lose some of its charm.
“I feel it kind of gives it another type of charm. You see those nice developments over there? They are nice, don’t get me wrong, but it's a different feel,” says William Reeck.
The owner of the diner did not wish to comment on the proposal since the plan is in the early preliminary stages. It goes in front of the Hoboken Planning Board on Wednesday night.