Chelsea's Empire Diner Set To Close Next Month

Photograph by jpchan on Flickr

Another iconic NYC diner is closing: The Empire Diner in Chelsea says in a note posted on its website, "After more than thirty years of serving Chelsea residents, actors, police commissioners, athletes, gangsters, such luminaries as Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Steven Spielberg, and anyone carrying a New York City Guide Book, the Empire Diner has lost its lease and is closing its doors May 15th, 2010. Renate Gonzalez and Mitchell Woo are facing the bittersweet task of closing this iconic New York institution on 22nd and 10th while actively looking for sites to open a new Empire Diner."

The Empire Diner's note (full note after the jump) adds, "Inasmuch as the Empire Diner will no longer be in its original location, the plan is to bring the Empire Diner Experience to neighborhoods around the world." Last November, news of the Empire Diner's eventual closing was revealed—the property's owner apparently didn't want to renew the lease and the company behind Coffee Shop in Union Square is taking over the prefabricated diner's space.

Gonzalez told the News, "We're very sad. I've seen kids grow up in the neighborhood." Last year, the Cheyenne Diner, which closed in 2008, was moved to Alabama while the Moondance Diner, closed in 2007, went to Wyoming.

After more than thirty years of serving Chelsea residents, actors, police commissioners, athletes, gangsters, such luminaries as Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Steven Spielberg, and anyone carrying a New York City Guide Book, the Empire Diner has lost its lease and is closing its doors May 15th, 2010.
Renate Gonzalez and Mitchell Woo are facing the bittersweet task of closing this iconic New York institution on 22nd and 10th while actively looking for sites to open a new Empire Diner.

The search is on for appropriate real estate in and around New York City, as well as abroad, on which to develop both new Empire Diners and Burger Rebels eateries.

Inasmuch as the Empire Diner will no longer be in its original location, the plan is to bring the Empire Diner Experience to neighborhoods around the world.

The Empire Diner was closed and nearly abandoned in 1976 when three young New Yorkers-Jack Doenias, Carl Laanes, and Richard Ruskay, renovated the former greasy spoon on then-grungy 10th Ave. and turned it into the landmark restaurant it has become. With its Chrome and Black interior, traveling marquee lights, outdoor café, flashing “EAT” sign, and stainless steel Empire State building silhouette, the Empire Diner became a major force in the Chelsea Renaissance that allowed art galleries, hotels, and other restaurants to replace the machine shops, gas stations and auto parts stores that then dominated the landscape.

After the passing of Doenias and Ruskay, surviving partner Carl Laanes sold the operation to Executive Chef Mitchell Woo and General Manager Renate Gonzalez. Renate had come to the Diner in 1986, Mitchell in 1980. Both have been hands-on owners and are deeply saddened to have to leave their professional homes of over three decades.

Mitchell and Renate hope that friends, customers, and anyone with a lead on a suitable site will leave word here for them. Interested people will be kept informed of progress in the News section of our web address.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in Food on April 25, 2010 11:10 AM

Comments [rss]

bn

This place was truly awful. Here's a real story from the place I vowed never to go to again...I'm not even going to mention the cold food that was served...But I ordered a milkshake (overpriced already at $6). When it arrived, it was as thin as water. I asked if they could add a scoop to make it thicker. The server said no and that they "don't really make thick shakes". I asked if I could at this point at least PAY EXTRA to get some extra ice cream put in it. At which point, the poor waiter walks away and comes back to our table with a piece of paper that was posted next to the milkshake maker that read "do not serve the customers thick shakes. It was never our intention to offer thick shakes." Forget "thick". This wasnt even a regular shake. It was like a glass of skim milk. He wouldn't fix it. So I said ok, if you can't make it right, I don't want it and I'm not going to pay for it. The server says, "It's a perfectly good shake. Why would you want that to go to waste?" What a wonderful experience having someone else tell me what I think is good. Needless to say, I didnt pay for it in the end. Great that this overpriced hole in the wall will be gone. :)

jwhatev

I'm really surprised. I worked there in the 1980s and remember when Renata started working there. It's such an institution. I waited on some wild people during the graveyard shift. A lot of traffic from the Tunnel club. Sad

tchill

Coffee Shop? It's about time. Chelsea will finally get it's share of narcissistic anorexic vacant-faced models and the parasitic vermin that surrounds them.

pinball29

The only thing worse than the Empire closing is that the owners of the Coffee Shop will be taking over the space. The Coffee Shop is the WORST, douchebag filled over-priced hellhole in New York. I can hear the gentry residents of West 22nd screaming now.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

damn I hate the Coffee Shop, those people are delusional.

ericmayville

Good riddance. This was hands down the worst restaurant I had ever been too. Terrible, pompass service.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

yep agreed.

Gwinny

Agreed - it was way overpriced for what it was, too.

S.K.

if the diner's owners were smart, they would have bought the land that the diner sits on.

thewildpansy

I mean...being "smart" can help with that decision I guess...but being smart doesn't A. Give you enough money to buy property or make it for sale when it's not for sale.