Photo of the Cheyenne Diner, Michael Perlman
From the Committee to Save the Cheyenne Diner, adapted
Sunday, April 6th marked the death of a New York City icon. A nine-story condo is planned to go up in place of the 68 year old Cheyenne Diner, the last of the streamlined railway car-inspired diners in Mid-Manhattan. Located at 411 9th Avenue and 33rd St, the diner was pre-assembled by Paramount in 1940, and known as the Market Diner through 1986. Its streamlined façade features vertical and horizontal stainless steel securing bowed colorful enamel panels, wrap-around windows, a curved entryway with glass block, and a reverse channel illuminated neon sign. The interior features a streamlined barrel roof, counter and stools, as well as Indian tribal coins. It retains a majority of its original and distinctive elements and was recently granted 1st prize on NYC-Architecture.com’s “Top 10 NY Diners/Restaurants. Because “Diners are amongst the ‘ultimate public institutions’, which harbor countless memories and bridge the generations”, their loss is truly heartfelt, says Michael Perlman.
Though, there may be hope some glimmer of hope for this nostalgic gem. A movement is underway which may grant the Cheyenne a new lease on life. After his victory sparing the Moondance diner last summer, Preservationist Michael Perlman of Queens, along with fellow Preservationist Kyle Supley of Brooklyn, are now campaigning to spare the Cheyenne Diner from oblivion. The diner is up for sale with an asking price of $7,900. The buyer is responsible for rigging and lot acquisition costs. Michael Perlman will be working in conjunction with the George Papas, developer of the Cheyenne property and owner of the Skylight Diner (402 W. 34th St) to save the diner from demolition by finding it a new home.
Perlman has already received notification from potential buyers from Indiana and Ohio. While the Cheyenne can potentially land a good home out of state, many patrons are praying that a New York based buyer will contact the Committee at unlockthevault@hotmail.com, so it can ideally remain closer to its roots than the Moondance Diner, now in in Wyoming.
The Committe is certain that "A steady market for such nostalgic gems, coupled by the fact that they were manufactured to move; can ensure a victory for the Cheyenne Diner.”
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Cheyenne Diner May 2007 day scenes, Courtesy of Preservationist Michael Perlman:
http://flickr.com/photos/8095451@N08/sets/72157604354225329/
Cheyenne Diner night scenes & memorabilia, Courtesy of Jeremiah Moss of Jeremiah’s Vanishing NY (http://vanishingnewyork.blogspot.com/)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11205114@N03/tags/cheyenne
’83 Cheyenne as Market Diner, courtesy of roadside photographer Larry Cultrera of Society for Commercial Archeology & Diner Hotline (http://dinerhotline.wordpress.com/about/):
http://flickr.com/photos/8095451@N08/2383404269/
Dec ’79 Cheyenne as Market Diner, serigraph courtesy of photorealist John Baeder (www.johnbaeder.com):
http://flickr.com/photos/8095451@N08/2383392233/
