The Empire Diner, closing

The Empire Diner in Chelsea is closing on May 15th. In a note posted on its website the owners say, "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 neighborhood has a blend of old and new architecture. And the diner added a touch of nostalgia.