Moriarty bill aims to help historic diners with tax credits and sales tax relief

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MULLICA HILL, N.J. (WPVI) -- The grills were fired up for the lunch rush at Harrison House Diner in Mullica Hill, a longtime local spot known for its wide-ranging specials and loyal customers.

For decades, the diner has drawn people who appreciate classic Jersey diner fare.

"My favorite thing, I think, would be the roast turkey," said Diane Capel of Mullica Hill.

Capel's connection to diners goes beyond the menu. She said she got engaged in one 50 years ago.

"We sat in one of the booths and my husband proposed," she recalled.

But Harrison House owner Constantine Benas said the diner business is no longer what it once was. Rising costs have made it harder for owners to stay afloat, he said.

"We continually have to raise our prices just to be in a competitive state so we're not going in a downward spiral," Benas said.

Benas is hoping a bill moving through the New Jersey legislature could provide some relief. Known as the SODA POP Act, short for "Saving our diners and preserving our past," the proposal would create a registry of historic diners and restaurants that have been operating for 25 years or more. Those establishments would be eligible for up to $25,000 a year in tax credits.

"I mean, I didn't believe it when I first heard it. I was a little surprised and actually honored in a sense because I thought the diners were kind of left behind," Benas said.

State Sen. Paul Moriarty, a sponsor of the bill, said New Jersey's famous diners have struggled in recent years. He noted closures in his region and pointed to the pandemic as a major challenge.

"I've been seeing diners close in our region over the last few years. They had a particularly difficult time during COVID," said Moriarty, a Democrat representing the 4th District.

In addition to the registry and tax credits, the proposed legislation would eliminate the sales tax on the check at participating historic diners if the bill passes, potentially saving customers money.

For Benas, the measure is about continuing a family legacy that began decades ago. He said his grandfather started the business 40 years ago, reflecting a broader immigrant story in the state's diner industry.

"A lot of immigrants would come over from countries like Greece and start as dishwashers and work their way to becoming owners, and that just was the business plan for the state. People saw this as an opportunity to get the American dream," Benas said. "We just try to continue the lifestyle and legacy that we were given."

The bill, which has bipartisan sponsorship, still must pass votes in the full Senate and the Assembly before it would head to the governor's desk.