Good and Bad News: Five Guys Is Gone—But Char-Broil Set To Open

For lovers of Upper Montclair, there's good news and there's bad news.

Much to the chagrin of the town's teenagers, the bad news is that Five Guys is gone without a trace, having left last night seemingly without a word to anyone.

The signage has been removed and the windows have been soaped over so that you can't see inside. Workers at nearby stores such as Jafajems said they were dismayed to find the chain gone today.

Famous for its vast selection of toppings, Five Guys Burgers and Fries opened at 622 Valley Road in November 2010 following a long 18-month wait.

Although the Arlington, Va.-based burger chain faced an array of competition, such as Smashburger on Bloomfield Avenue, Five Guys was often full of customers, especially after nearby schools let out on Fridays.

"I don't know where we're going to go after school now," said teenager Arlen Baxter, adding that he and his friends "absolutely loved the fries there."

Meanwhile, the good news is that the beloved Montclair "Char-Broil" diner at 613 Valley Road is poised to re-open next week, according to owner Gus Makris.

"I'm not sure exactly what day but we'll be opening next week and we're very happy about it," he said Monday, smiling as he poured over some paperwork.

A walk around the interior revealed a new "Americana" look for the old fashioned eatery, as Makris described it, with fashionable new booths decorated in deep reds and blues.

"We may even put up American flags outside," he said proudly.

The diner also sports a new blue awning that reads simply: Montclair Diner.

The restaurant known for being open even in the midst of the heaviest of snowstorms has been closed since April 19, 2011, when an electrical kitchen fire put the business out of commission and forced a reconstruction.

Although no one was seriously injured, the blaze covered the diner in soot, with the main room burned almost beyond recognition.

After a dozen years in business, Makris said he can't wait to get back to serving his loyal customers.

"They've always stuck with me," he said.

These latest changes are just more evidence of Upper Montclair's ever-changing business landscape.

Just in the past few months, the opened on Valley Road, Alex moved from Valley to Bellevue Avenue and changed its name to , and Learning Express expanded into a new facility at the corner of Valley and Bellevue.

What do you think of the changes and what will you do without Five Guys? Let us know in the comments section.