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Cheyenne Diner structure may go elsewhere

By Marlene Naanes | mnaanes@am-ny.com

April 3, 2008

The Cheyenne Diner is located on the corner of 33rd Street and Ninth Ave. The diner has been in the area for more than 50 years and is one of the last remaining railroad-car-style diners in Manhattan. (RJ Mickelson, amNewYork / March 31, 2008)

Even though the Cheyenne Diner will close its doors on Sunday to make way for a new nine-story development, the chrome covered structure may continue to live on elsewhere.

Local preservationist Michael Perlman has launched the Committee to Save the Cheyenne Diner, hoping to preserve and move the circa-1940s structure, one of Manhattan's last railroad-car-style diners. Perlman submitted a proposal yesterday to property owner George Papas in hopes of convincing him to donate the diner on Ninth Avenue at 33rd Street for a possible tax write off.

So far, Papas said he is willing to talk to Perlman, who also helped save SoHo's Moonlight Diner through a similar effort that convinced a developer to donate it to the American Diner Museum. The museum helped relocate it to LaBarge, Wyo.

Papas and Perlman will meet on Sunday to discuss the Cheyenne proposal.

"If he can make sure that it's movable ... sure I'm open to that," Papas said. "As long as it doesn't get demolished, that's the best thing."

A diner owner from upstate New York also has shown interest in buying the building and relocating it. Papas said he's waiting to hear from the businessman to set up a meeting this week and would consider both proposals.

Papas said he expected to eventually replace the diner with a nine-story steel and glass building that will likely contain a restaurant on the first two floors and seven floors of housing.