Sheepshead Bay Diner Prepares to Serve Last Meal

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Sheepshead Bay Diner Prepares to Serve Last Meal

 

      By: Jeanine Ramirez 12/17/2014 10:29 PM

 

Sheepshead Bay Diner Prepares to Serve Last Meal

 

A Sheepshead Bay diner that's been a neighborhood institution since the 1970s is getting ready to serve its last meal. NY1's Jeanine Ramirez filed the following report.

 

For 40 years, the El Greco diner in Sheepshead Bay has been serving its customers around the clock. The only time it was forced to close was when a hurricane barreled through.

"We were closed by the storm, Sandy, but other than that, we were 24 hours a day, seven days a week for 40 years," said George Venetoklis, an owner of El Greco Diner.

Now, a sign in the window is saying goodbye to the neighborhood. El Greco closes its doors for good on Friday. The owners sold it to a developer to make way for a residential and retail project.

"I cannot say much because it's a bittersweet goodbye," said Anastasia Venetoklis, an owner of El Greco Diner.

Anastasia's husband, Milos, built the one-story structure in 1974. He died 20 years ago, but she and her sons kept the family business running. They sold the property just last week.

"We decided after doing 40 years of business here that it was time for us to move on," George Venetoklis said.

Longtime patrons said they can hardly believe the neighborhood institution will be gone.

"It was a shock," said one patron. "And it's still heartbreaking because I definitely will miss it."

"I basically grew up in this place. I lived in Sheepshead Bay almost all my life," said another. "Pretty devastated by the news."

"This is just the place that I grew up and I love," said a third.

With parking on site, the diner sits on more than 41,000 square feet, taking up an entire block along Emmons Avenue with waterfront views. The neighborhood website Sheepshead Bites said the property sold for $13 million.

Rybak Development said plans for the site include a public plaza. It said there's no construction timetable yet because plans still need to be approved.

The project is one of several new high-rises planned for the low-scale waterfront community. Some residents said they don't want more residential towers.

"Not another condo," said one

They all agreed that the diner will be missed. Anastasia said it's a new beginning in so many ways.

"I have to start cooking again. I forgot how to cook," she said.

El Greco plans to throw a final farewell party Friday.

 

Source: http://www.ny1.com/content/news/220590/sheepshead-bay-diner-prepares-to-serve-last-meal/

[Orion VII 4 Life]

Wow I remember eating there for years with my fam... damn Sheepshead's changing.

 

But onto the new buildings everything they built up already seems to be empty so I don't get why they keep building them. It's too far from Manhattan and most of it is too quiet and almost Long Island like to gentrify IMHO, unless they're gonna try and market to the Russians like they have but they haven't really been filling up the luxury buildings they already built. I mean the area down by the diner is nice and all being on the water but I think trying to build up all this luxury sh*t there is a waste of money like it has been in the area in general so far. You build that stuff in areas that are gentrifying or going that way and I can't see that happening to Sheepshead for a long time.

[peacemak3r]

I personally never liked that diner for some odd reason. Though I don't steer friends away from going there. It's been a long run for them.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Wow I remember eating there for years with my fam... damn Sheepshead's changing.

 

But onto the new buildings everything they built up already seems to be empty so I don't get why they keep building them. It's too far from Manhattan and most of it is too quiet and almost Long Island like to gentrify IMHO, unless they're gonna try and market to the Russians like they have but they haven't really been filling up the luxury buildings they already built. I mean the area down by the diner is nice and all being on the water but I think trying to build up all this luxury sh*t there is a waste of money like it has been in the area in general so far. You build that stuff in areas that are gentrifying or going that way and I can't see that happening to Sheepshead for a long time.

El Greco's was never great but it was a staple in the neighborhood that EVERYONE went to.  I last ate there years ago with a group of friends during a late night.  Had a tiramisu there. We all grew up either in Sheepshead Bay or Bay Ridge, so we've all hung out there on multiple occasions as teenagers.  My barbershop was across the street (Ginger Rose) and I still frequent the area regularly via the BM3 and get off right in front of the place since I still have things to do down there.  

 

You are right about the other developments along Emmons Avenue.  The real problem with the area that already has condos is that they are overpriced and the developers have been so greedy that they been sitting on the buildings and refusing to drop their price.  At the last transportation hearing that was held in that area (Emmons and Nostrand Avenue) at the Knights of Baron De Kalb, a Russian lady spoke about restoring BM3 service because numerous folks in her co-op were moving and selling their apartments due to a lack of transportation, and she pointed to the massive BM3 cuts as being part of the problem.  At that time there was very little B4 service, so that meant taking two buses just to get to the subway outside of rush hours, not to mention any other transfers.

 

My understanding is that when this development is built there will be more luxury condos, and given the proximity of the BM3, it would make sense to make the line more attractive as you would have more folks down there that could afford the service.  The other issue with that area is the folks that use the BM3 are either moving away or dying (the old school folks back in the day are becoming old now) so there needs to be a new group of riders in order for service to be held.

 

Overall the area desperately needs new development.  It was really becoming run down, so a re-birth of sorts would help. Lundy's was the THE spot back in the 90's and now it looks horrible.  

[NY1635]

What's the point of building luxury condos if most of the people cannot afford to live in them?

[Via Garibaldi 8]

What's the point of building luxury condos if most of the people cannot afford to live in them?

There are plenty of areas in the city that have luxury co-ops and condos that do well.  The difference is that those areas have the amenities to attract the right buyers.  Sheepshead Bay while nice, doesn't have the transportation infrastructure to attract the buyers at the price points that these developers are trying to sell at.  Limited express bus service, and the subway still requires a bus transfer.  Not worth the price.

[bobtehpanda]

What's the point of building luxury condos if most of the people cannot afford to live in them?

 

With any luck, once the housing market calms down and oligarchs stop pumping questionably obtained cash into the city, the prices will fall down to earth, then the upper middle class people who buy them will sell their nice apartments to less wealthy people, and so on and so forth.

 

Before the zoning code in 1961, this process happened fairly frequently, and was known as "filtering."

[Via Garibaldi 8]

With any luck, once the housing market calms down and oligarchs stop pumping questionably obtained cash into the city, the prices will fall down to earth, then the upper middle class people who buy them will sell their nice apartments to less wealthy people, and so on and so forth.

 

Before the zoning code in 1961, this process happened fairly frequently, and was known as "filtering."

Wishful thinking but I don't see that happening anytime soon. Prices are going up everywhere, and even with the sluggish economy, I don't see prices really falling.  If anything they're stabilizing and then increasing.

[BxM4Woodlawn]

is this the Diner that's on Emmons Avenue?

[Calvin]

is this the Diner that's on Emmons Avenue?

yes, now its closed for good

[B35 via Church]

I personally never liked that diner for some odd reason. Though I don't steer friends away from going there. It's been a long run for them.

I personally don't like diners in general... Quite a bit of them have shady (looking) outward appearances, and that one out in Sheepshead is no different.....

 

 

What's the point of building luxury condos if most of the people cannot afford to live in them?

To try to attract rich & wealthy people to come & live (not just invest) in this city.....While many are caught up in the gentrification that's happening at a far faster rate, a gentrified NYC isn't the end game that many think it is.....

 

I'm not worried though, because it's simply not gonna fully manifest - NYC being a haven for only the rich & wealthy....

[Dan1]

They got about $13M for the property. That's incredible. I agree with those here who say 'luxury' doesn't make sense on Emmons due to the transportation problems. But developers are willing to take that chance. Sheepshead is a nice safe, stable neighborhood, a big positive. I wonder how long before Roll-N-Roaster is sold.

[nostalgia]

Never ate there. BUT oh how I remember Lundys down the street. The restaurant closed and then reopened in the early 2000s and then closed again. It's now converted to Cherry Hill Gourmet Market but it still has Lundys appearance, even on the inside.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Never ate there. BUT oh how I remember Lundys down the street. The restaurant closed and then reopened in the early 2000s and then closed again. It's now converted to Cherry Hill Gourmet Market but it still has Lundys appearance, even on the inside.

Yeah but it's completely run down now and certainly not what it used to be back in the 90's when it was THE place to be in Sheepshead Bay.  

[nostalgia]

90s??? I'm writing about the 60s.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

90s??? I'm writing about the 60s.

Sheepshead Bay in the 90's had more Italians at that time, which helped to revive the place aside from other things.  I was a teenager then and remember how lively it was down there when I would walk along Sheepshead Bay Road.  Was a great scene back then.  Then a lot of my friends along with us started moving out and the neighborhood changed and has been in decline ever since, despite efforts to revive it with new restaurants and condos.  Not the same place I grew up with.