{"id":39303,"date":"2022-07-25T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-25T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/cjs-diner-which-drew-loyal-customers-to-close-after-22-years\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T02:48:59","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T08:48:59","slug":"cjs-diner-which-drew-loyal-customers-to-close-after-22-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/cjs-diner-which-drew-loyal-customers-to-close-after-22-years\/","title":{"rendered":"CJ\u2019s Diner, which drew loyal customers, to close after 22 years"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Jerry
Jerry Martinez, owner of CJ&#x2019;s Diner, stands in front of his restaurant Tuesday. The diner has remained open to in-person dining despite a state public health order that prevents in-person dining in counties that are categorized as Level Red because of a high rate of COVID-19 cases.<\/span>Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

CJ\u2019s Diner, a breakfast and lunch spot that amassed a loyal following during its 22 years in Durango, is permanently closing July 29.<\/p>\n

An open house will be held from 8 a.m. to noon July 30 to give customers a chance to say their goodbyes.<\/p>\n

In less than a month, on Aug. 8, Rupert\u2019s at the Edge<\/a>, a diner operating in Edgewater near Denver, will move into the 2,000-square-foot space at 810 East College Drive.<\/p>\n

CJ\u2019s Diner is known for its comfort-food breakfasts, special-event catering and tight-knit relationships. It also became a lighting rod of controversy during the 2020 COVID-19 shutdowns, when the restaurant defied state and local shutdown orders intended to limit the spread of the coronavirus.<\/p>\n

A judge ordered the restaurant be closed, and owners Carrie and Jerry Martinez eventually complied. But they also filed a lawsuit against the state and San Juan Basin Public Health arguing the shutdowns were unconstitutional. The lawsuit was dismissed earlier this year.<\/p>\n

Martinez said the restaurant needed to stay open to employ staff members and keep his business on solid financial footing. He said the diner would not have survived doing pickup and delivery service alone.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat took a toll on not just us, but on this whole community and the restaurant businesses as well,\u201d Jerry Martinez said.<\/p>\n

\"Jerry
Jerry Martinez coached basketball and served as president of the Hundred Club of Durango. He is closing CJ\u2019s Diner and moving to San Antonio after being in business for 22 years in Durango. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald file)<\/span>JERRY McBRIDE\/Durango Herald<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The Martinezes opened CJ\u2019s in 2000, after Jerry spent the previous 27 years working at Lori\u2019s Family Dining on north Main Avenue where Durango Doughworks currently operates. Throughout his ownership, Martinez always emphasized strong community values.<\/p>\n

He cared about his customers and being involved with their lives.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat makes us unique is we know our customers. \u2026 We know when somebody dies or someone\u2019s sick or whatever it is \u2013 we\u2019re there. And we\u2019ve walked through things with people in their lives,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Martinez has plenty of favorite diner moments but one that resonates with him was catering the First Baptist Church\u2019s Night to Shine event. Night to Shine is a prom-style event for people with special needs hosted every year by the church.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust to see people rally and come together to help make this thing happen was, to me, one of my biggest highlights,\u201d Martinez said.<\/p>\n

The Martinezes plan to move to San Antonio, where they look forward to starting a new chapter.<\/p>\n

It was a bittersweet decision for the couple, who have spent so much time in Durango. Jerry Martinez was highly involved in other ways with the community, including coaching basketball and serving as president of the Hundred Club of Durango, which helps law enforcement families with scholarships and financial donations during times of tragedy.<\/p>\n

\u201cDurango, to me, will always be home,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd maybe someday we make our way back. But for now, we just feel like this is what we should be doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Jerry
Jerry Martinez, owner of CJ's Diner, talks with Mark Palmer, center, and Ben Martinez on Wednesday at the diner during the lunch hour. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Martinez said he wishes the best for the new restaurants moving into his space. He said people love small business stories, because every person has a story to tell.<\/p>\n

Martinez said he has introduced some of his regular customers to the owners of the new restaurant as a gesture of good faith.<\/p>\n

\u201cUsually, there\u2019s about six or seven of them,\u201d he said of a core group of regular customers. \u201cThey all sit together and talk about (how) they\u2019ve been going through withdrawals (with CJ\u2019s leaving). So it\u2019s good that they got to meet this new owner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Martinez hopes he was able to make a positive impact on people\u2019s lives and develop meaningful relationships, whether it be by giving someone a job, coaching someone or buying someone\u2019s animal at the La Plata County Fair.<\/p>\n

Martinez said the future is exciting, but he will miss his regular customers and all they did to promote CJ\u2019s Diner. He is moving to San Antonio but hopes to travel to other places like Alaska, Ireland and Oregon.<\/p>\n

tbrown@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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