"8-Bit Bites" Preparing to Debut in Former Johnson City Diner

An iconic Broome County diner is undergoing a dramatic makeover in preparation for serving food for another generation.

A town of Binghamton man acquired the Red Robin Diner building on Main Street in Johnson City just over a year ago.

Taimoor Khan expects people will be surprised by the updated look and new experience when the new establishment opens.

It will be called 8-Bit Bites, part of a small but growing chain of restaurants that promise to offer some "nostalgia of the 80s and 90s." The current locations are in New York City.

The nostalgic "7Up" sign will remain but the "8-Bit Bites" name will appear in place of the "Red Robin." (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

The 8-Bit Bites menu will offer various items including smash burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, wings and shakes.

The halal restaurants provide customers the opportunity to play free games while dining.

In recent months, the interior of the old Red Robin has been gutted as part of a major renovation project.

The diner structure itself is nearly 75 years old. The Red Robin opened in 1950 on Conklin Avenue near the Washington Street bridge on Binghamton's South Side.

The Red Robin Diner as it was being moved from Binghamton to Johnson City in the summer of 1959. (Photo: Broome County Historical Society)

The place closed in 1956 and three years later it was transported to its present site at Main and Broad streets in Johnson City. The Red Robin shut down suddenly in January 2021.

Khan had hoped to open 8-Bit Bites this month but the preparation work is taking longer than anticipated. He told WNBF News he now hopes the new business will be able to open late next month.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

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Source: “8-Bit Bites” Preparing to Debut in Former Johnson City Diner