Diners of NYC

05/29/2026

Star on 18th Diner is closing its doors on May 31st after 25 years. The new property owners want them out. They will no doubt demolish it and build some characterless high rise like all the others that have replaced diners before it. This is one of the last four standalone diners in Manhattan, without a building above it. This is a big loss for the city. It’s a loss to the neighborhood which recently saw the closing of Hectors Diner as well. The Gioulis family has put in years of hard work and slim margins in this beautiful diner. You’ve got three days left to eat here and wish them well. Run don’t walk. This is truly the end of an era!

05/21/2026

Diners have been closing in Queens rapidly over the last few years. I’ve been documenting this decline and sharing stories of small businesses for over a decade. Queens is one of the most vibrant boroughs and these lost diners show a changing landscape. What diner do you miss most. Mine is an easy answer: Kane’s Diner.

04/30/2026

Brooklyn has lost a ton of diners over the last decade- 40+! I’ve been photographing them over the years and here are some that closed. Check out part 1 for more.

04/23/2026

Brooklyn has lost over 40 diners in the last decade alone. I’m sharing images of those diners here, with more to come in part 2.

03/10/2026

I just heard from the family that owns Star on 18th Diner and they were pleased to report a ton of customers showed up to the diner after I posted alerting the community to the diner closing soon. They told them I sent you! Thank you! It really warms my heard and theirs! I built this community as a labor of love and it is incredible when you guys show up, go out of your way to patron a business and show support. I’ve had a few trolls over the years telling me projects like this are ruining restaurants but they seem to miss the point that at the heart of this project in documenting history, supporting small business, capturing oral stories, recording architectural details and sharing it all with people who want to learn and really care. When you show up, it makes all the work worth it. Thank you again!

02/14/2026

For anyone in a long-distance relationship — even if that relationship is with New York City itself — I’ve got some bittersweet Valentine’s cards for you. 💔✨ These are for the diners we loved and lost. The booths that held our conversations. The neon that lit up 2 a.m. heartbreaks. The counters were always welcoming, and the waitstaff knew your order. Where time stood still. Gone, but never out of our hearts. There are far too many to mention, but here are some of my favorites that I still think about all the time. Save one. Send one. Tag someone who still misses their regular local spot. 🥧❤️ gentrificationsucks bittersweetvalentines valentinesday goodfellasdiner alphadonuts riverdalediner usadiner newamityrestaurant hectorsdiner

12/07/2025

10/09/2025

White Mana Diner in Jersey City isn’t a New York City diner but it does have a NYC connection. It was in the 1939 Worlds Fair in Flushing Queens. With its unique factory built octagonal design, it was an architectural example what the future of diners could look like! Unfortunately the style didn’t catch on. It was moved to Jersey after the Fair in two pieces and has been serving hot meals ever since. One big difference from is the menu. They serve thousands of sliders a day. There is another White Mana Diner location but this is the original. Many believe that White Castle modeled their restaurant design and name after White Mana and there are similarities. This was my first New Jersey diner, and it was well worth the journey from Manhattan. Have you been to this diner? Have you come from New York City or farther to go to this diner?

07/27/2025

Today is the last day Steve’s Coffeeshop in Flushing will be open. I had a nice long conversation with Andy the owner back in May and he was bleak about the future of the diner. I’ll share more of that conversation another day. This place is a really good example of a classic Coffeeshop-diner hybrid over 45+ old in . Great food. It has of more unique diner counter seats I’ve encountered. Walk don’t run, the diner closes forever today.

02/26/2025

Painting of my picture of a man enjoying breakfast at the New York Grill painted by Nora . This is a project first! As far as I know this is the first painting made of an image I’ve taken of a New York Diner. I like how well she captured the diner while adding diner elements to it like the coffee cup. ☕️ Well done Nora- I’m honored to have been your inspiration!