It was an easy call for Stathis Antonakopoulos, who’s the owner and chef of the New York City Carnegie Diner & Cafe, close to Broadway shows, to open another one in Secaucus, NJ.

It’s just a 20-minute drive from Hoboken, where his children attend school and he knows the area well, living in Jersey City Heights, telling Hoboken Girl that, when the opportunity came, we took it.”

He said that, “we love that it’s close to Manhattan, but also far away… This is where we live, and I want to make something that I’m proud to host my friends and family.”

The Manhattan restaurant is right across from the renowned Carnegie Hall, home to many historic concerts, and he said that, “we have organic menu options, which sets us apart from our competition and any modern-style diner. It’s an elevated experience of the original idea of a diner experience.”

Stathis, who was born in Greece, has been part of the hospitality industry since he was 18 years old and was Director of Operations at Kellari Taverna in New York City and opened STIX, a Middle Eastern restaurant in Manhattan and Queens.