Owner of Miss Monticello Diner Dies at 79

Dimitrios 'Jimmy' Nikolados, a Greek immigrant who built a beloved local diner, passed away on April 9th.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 9:25am

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a classic diner coffee cup repeated in a tight grid pattern, using a vibrant neon color palette and heavy black photographic outlines to turn an everyday lifestyle object into modern pop art.The iconic Miss Monticello Diner, a beloved local institution for over 30 years, is memorialized in a vibrant pop art tribute to its Greek immigrant owner.Middletown Today

Dimitrios 'Jimmy' Nikolados, the owner of the Miss Monticello Diner in Monticello, New York, has died at the age of 79. Nikolados, a Greek immigrant, purchased the diner in 1991 and became a fixture in the community, building a successful business and sense of community around the local eatery.

Why it matters

The Miss Monticello Diner was a beloved institution in the town of Monticello, representing the story of a Greek immigrant who achieved the American dream by building a successful small business. Nikolados' passing marks the end of an era for the diner and the local community it served for over 30 years.

The details

Dimitrios 'Jimmy' Nikolados was born and raised on the Greek island of Chios. He served in the Hellenic Navy before immigrating to the United States in 1969 and settling in Brooklyn, where he worked in diners and restaurants. In 1990, Nikolados moved his family to Mountaindale, New York, and a year later purchased the Miss Monticello Diner, where he became a familiar face in the community.

  • Nikolados passed away on April 9, 2026.
  • Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at Vaninwegen-Kenney Funeral Home in Monticello.
  • Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 11 a.m. at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Middletown.

The players

Dimitrios 'Jimmy' Nikolados

The 79-year-old owner of the Miss Monticello Diner in Monticello, New York, who passed away on April 9, 2026. Nikolados was a Greek immigrant who built a successful small business and became a fixture in the local community.

George Nikolados

The former mayor of Monticello and the son of Dimitrios 'Jimmy' Nikolados.

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What they’re saying

“Dimitrios 'Jimmy' Nikolados was a beloved figure in our community, and his diner was a gathering place for locals for over three decades. He will be deeply missed.”

— George Nikolados, Former Mayor of Monticello

What’s next

Nikolados' funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 11 a.m. at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Middletown, followed by burial at the Rock Ridge Cemetery in Monticello.

The takeaway

The passing of Dimitrios 'Jimmy' Nikolados marks the end of an era for the Miss Monticello Diner and the local community it served for over 30 years. Nikolados' story as a Greek immigrant who built a successful small business and became a fixture in Monticello represents the American dream, and his legacy will continue to be felt in the town he called home.