Golden Eagle Diner Receives $1.5 Million Overhaul

A $1.5 million renovation has been completed at one of Bristol Borough’s mainstay eateries.

On Thursday evening, owner Huseyin Gunaydin cut the ribbon to officially christen the upgrades to Golden Eagle Diner at the corner of Bath Street and Route 13.

The work has changed the look of the diner with a bar both inside and outside. Gunaydin said the work brings the building up to date and makes it more visually appealing from the street while the food and service will remain the same.

One big addition to the eatery is the outdoor patio that sits on the front of the building.

For Gunaydin, the competition of the work marks a milestone in his career in the restaurant business, one that started when the Turkish immigrant came to America in 1977 and began working as a dishwasher at the Marlboro Motor Lodge in Monmouth County, New Jersey.

From his job as a dishwasher, Gunaydin worked his way up to being a short-order cook and then a baker, a job he used to earn a decent living.

“I went from making $300 to $400 to working at three different places and making $1,000 as a baker,” he said. “You see, I was working 18 hours a day, no sunlight.”

“I start at 4 a.m. and get home at 8 p.m. and was very busy.”

The long hours payed off and Gunaydin was able to buy a diner in South Jersey, later also purchasing the Golden Eagle Diner.

While he has sold the South Jersey diner, he has kept the Golden Eagle Diner and is proud to employ close to 70 people, including members of his family.

Gunaydin said he is proud of the eatery and the new look, especially after the Route 13 construction project that his business is still bouncing back from.

As he spoke with a reporter, customers came up to him and thanked him for his hospitality and congratulated him on the update that took years of planning.

As he gets older, Gunaydin said he hopes his family will take over the business and continue running the Golden Eagle Diner.

“I love my job,” Gunaydin said.

Bristol Borough Mayor Joe Saxton congratulated Gunaydin on the update and thanked him for the upgrade at one of the town’s gateway intersections.

Bill Pezza, president of Bristol Borough: Raising the Bar, encouraged area residents and business owners to enjoy a meal at the Golden Eagle Diner.