An iconic diner that has been in Paterson for more than eight decades is set to have a grand reopening.

Vaughn McKoy, one of the new owners of Mr. G's, grew up in an apartment on East 19th Street in the city, but little did he know that the restaurant down the street would become his one day.

"It was opened and closed when I was a kid... when it was open we all frequented the diner," said McKoy.

The diner has been on the corner of 10th Avenue and East 18th Street in the city for nearly 85 years.

The new owners say it was first built in 1940, and originally known as Pickering's Grill, before being sold a few times.

Then in 2008, civil rights activist Russell “G” Graddy purchased the diner, naming it Mr. G's. It closed in 2021 after he passed.

That's when the McKoys and their business partner purchased. Mr. G's to keep the legacy alive.

"We're going to hold on to some of the traditions of the past...This is more than just a diner it's a place for the community. It's a place for restoration, healing and service," McKoy said.

The grand reopening of Mr. G's is this Saturday at 7 a.m.