Jerry’s Restaurant in Phoenix closing for good Wednesday after 53 years

PHOENIX — Jerry’s Restaurant, the oldies-themed Phoenix diner, will be closing its doors for good after its last meals are served Wednesday.

The restaurant on Thomas Road and 24th Street, opened in 1966, will be replaced by a car wash, according to city documents.

According to the documents, the car wash will be part of the Jacksons chain, which has 11 locations in Phoenix area.

Longtime customers expressed their sadness over the restaurant’s last days on Facebook.

“Been eating here my whole life and fed all 10 kids here and brought many friends here over the years,” one customer, who called the closing a “sad day,” said in a post.

“Last chance to eat at the iconic Jerry’s Diner. Going to be missed,” another said.

Some shared stories about the diner from past decades, including one customer who said her parents would eat there when her mom finished her night shift at the hospital.

Others talked about what they came back to enjoy for one last time this week, including the diner’s Reuben and club sandwiches, milkshakes, fish fry meals, breakfast foods and oldies music.

Jerry’s has three other locations in Safford; Weatherford, Oklahoma; and Fallon, Nevada.