NYC’s vintage Cheyenne Diner closing

Yet another diner in New York City is closing, leaving few of the classic stainless steel diners that were once so common in Manhattan. An article in the New York Daily News states that the Cheyenee Diner, 33rd Street at 9th Avenue near Penn Station, is on land leased from a nearby diner owner who has decided building apartments is better than leasing to a competitor. Though 9 blocks south of the original Lincoln Highway / 42nd Street, the Cheyenne was the last old-time, factory-built diner near the cross-country route. Its last day is this Sunday. UPDATE: Now closed, this article says it’s for sale for $7,900.

Spiros Kasimis, 44, is only the third owner, having had it 18 years. He says the diner was doing well and that people still prefer burgers and bacon over healthy fare, but couldn’t compete with spiraling real estate values:

“The day of one-story structures in Manhattan is over,” he said, adding that he’s looking for a new location in the Hell’s Kitchen-Chelsea area.

Originally called the Market Diner, the 1946 Paramount-brand eatery features neon on the outside and Native American artifacts on interior walls. Another article from am New York debates if the structure can be moved. It’s popular with locals who lament the increasing replacement of community gatherings spots with more commercial uses.

The above photos are courtesy Flickr blog feature. Click on each image for the original post. Map (blue line is original LH, red dot is diner) from the LHA Driving Maps, available from the Lincoln Highway Trading Post.