April 6, 2008
Last Look at the Cheyenne Diner
Photograph of the Cheyenne's exterior at night by Goggla on Flickr
The Cheyenne Diner is closing for good today, to make room for another Manhattan residential building. The 68-year-old diner fell victim to the city's own successes and spiraling real estate costs. The owner of the property, George Papas, who owns the nearby Skylight Diner, figures that no matter how successful the Cheyenne is (a hamburger is $4.50, the lumberjack breakfast--two eggs, pancakes or French toast, and ham, sausage or bacon--is $7.95), there's no way it could match the rental income equal to the nine-story building that is planned to replace it.
Associated Press photographer Bebeto Matthews captured some scenes inside the Cheyenne Diner's during its final days (see gallery below). More images of the Art Moderne diner on 33rd St. and 9th Ave. can be seen at NYC-Architecture and Forgotten-NY.
Waiters Elba Aquino, foreground, and Alex Nunez, right, have worked at the diner for more than 14 years. (Bebeto Matthews/AP)
|
these photos are terrible, dude working for the AP should know how to properly use a wide angle lens!
My friends and I went in last night for a last round of burgers. Only a few people were still around, and they were no longer serving alcohol (so no firewater toast). The staff were all pretty much miserable.
Farewell, noble Cheyenne. The paleface devils have robbed you of your land once more.
I'm sorry to say ... I used to work just down the block from this diner ....... and the food was pretty bad. I wouldn't feel too bad even saying it sucked. It didn't set itself apart from the other many diners within one block of the place (tick tock, monlight). The only shame is the loss of jobs and the chrome diner ... but if you don't put any thought or time into food anymore, you're not going to make it in Manhattan unless your property is in the perfect location for turnover to cover your lack of regulars (due to crappy product).
farewell, Cheyenne!
Bad food or not, it's still sad to see this happening. Diners like this are a dying breed and yet they're the kind of thing that gives New York its character. Bland luxury condos add nothing to the character of this city on the other hand. I hope at least they can save the diner structure itself...
I guess that's what happens when you make the delivery guy the head cook...
They couldn't find a talented architect who could integrate the exterior decorations into the new building? Surely even a nine-story building could use a diner on the ground floor.
Cantilever the new bldg over it! It's only a 1 fl building. Maybe it could be done without driving a column thru the diner. If that is too expensive, give them a few floor more as an 'incentive.' It would be a real attraction!