BERGENFIELD — Matthews' Diner closed its doors Monday after more than a half-century serving cheese omelets and deluxe burgers.

But its new owner says it will return in different form. And he has solid restaurant credentials: He founded the Brownstone Diner in Jersey City, and his son owns the Brownstone Pancake Factory in Englewood Cliffs and Edgewater, its sister restaurants.

Matthews' Diner, which was opened in 1967 by Stanley Matthews and his brothers, was operated by his son, Sam, at the time of its closing. It celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017 with a party attended by the extended family, which also owns Matthews Diner & Restaurant in Waldwick and several other North Jersey diners.

Sam Matthews could not be reached for comment.

Maria Bournias, speaking on behalf of her father, Pangelis, said he purchased the diner on South Washington Avenue and plans to reopen it in late spring after renovations.

"We were trying to get my dad to retire, but one month and he was losing his mind, so that's when he started looking for another diner to buy," Bournias said.

Bournias said her father is considering renaming the Bergenfield location either Brownstone Diner or Brownstone Cafe, and is debating whether to open the restaurant for breakfast and lunch only, or to serve dinner.

CLASSIC NJ RESTAURANTS:Food & Wine magazine names these NJ spots the best classic restaurants in the Garden State

FOR SUBSCRIBERS:These 7 North Jersey restaurant openings have us the most excited for 2020

Bournias said one of the reasons her father bought the diner is that it resembled the Jersey City location, which opened in 1968 and is now run by his other daughter, Zoe, as Life Pancake Company.

"He just says when he walks in it reminds him of the old Jersey City diner, because it is like an old-school restaurant," Bournias said. "He just wants to go back to what he loves doing, which is running a diner."

She said her father will redo the interior, including redesigning the kitchen, and possibly add more seating. The menu for the new spot will be similar to what the other Brownstone restaurants serve, including pancakes, omelets and breakfast combos.

News of the Matthews' Diner closing was a surprise for some. Bergenfield native Roseann Coppola, who works as a real estate agent in Dumont, remembered riding her bike to the diner as a young girl.

"Back then, it was known as Matthews' Colonial Diner, so your friends would be like 'Do you want to go to the Colonial?' And it always had the best french fries," Coppola said.

"It's sad to hear the Matthews family doesn't own it anymore, but times change," she said.

The transaction was handled by Paul Skiadas of RE/MAX Properties Plus in Tenafly. Skiadas did not disclose the purchase price of the diner, but said it was less than the listed price of $1,799,000. The diner, with 35 parking spaces, had been listed for sale on the website Loopnet since July.

Ricardo Kaulessar is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: kaulessar@northjersey.com Twitter: @ricardokaul