Feb. 15, 2018 By Tara Law
The site that is home to Astoria’s Neptune Diner is for sale.
The property, located at 31-05 Astoria Blvd, and two adjacent lots are on the market for $10.5 million, according to a development listinglisting released by Eastern Consolidated, a real estate firm.
The diner signed a 35-year lease in 1984, which is set to expire on Aug. 31, 2019, with no extension options, according to Department of Buildings documents and Eastern Consolidated’s real estate listing.
The Astoria Post called the diner Monday and an employee transferred the call to the owner. When asked about the diner, the owner said, “No, it isn’t closing,” and abruptly hung up the phone.
The three lots cover 10,036 square feet, according to the listing. The site has a maximum zoning floor area of 44,432 square feet.
The property can be used as a mixed-use development and can be used for residential, commercial, and community purposes, according to the memo.
The Neptune Diner is not the first longtime Queens diner to make headlines this week.
The Queens Post reported Wednesday that the Georgia Diner, which has operated at 86-55 Queens Blvd. in Elmhurst since the 1970s, will close on March 25.
The Georgia will then merge with Nevada Diner at 80-26 Queens Blvd, which will then be renamed for the Georgia.
The Queens Gazette was first to report the listing.
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38 Comments
really good food and service. I have been going here for over a decade. very sad
Hope it contines & thrivesThat place is a landmark. I feel like I’m losing a relative. Still havent recovered from the loss of Athens Cafe.
this is not a “landmark” – do you know what “landmarking” means.
Landmark means exactly what Neptune Diner is to the people of Queens:
land·mark
ˈlan(d)ˌmärk/
noun
noun: landmark; plural noun: landmarks
1.
an object or feature of a landscape or town that is easily seen and recognized from a distance, especially one that enables someone to establish their location.
“the spire was once a landmark for ships sailing up the river”
YES, it is a landmark. why did that person seem to have to put the idea of landmark on the spot. obviously, not a nycer.
I have been going to this diner since the eighty’s. I wish Astoria’s historical society would do something about this closing since they cant seem to save any of the old homes. Perhaps they can save the diner and turn it into a museum of Old Astoria or something nice.
If the property is sold and Neptune Diner manages to get a new lease they should really renovate the place and change the name. Change the name to something that doesn’t remind people of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (which was a big flop).
I miss picking up strippers there at 4am
Nowadays, try one of the many massage parlors around here.
It’s sad to see Neptune close. Reflecting back to when I was in my teens, I always had an excellent experience but the food as of late has been horrible. Either not cooked right or using the wrong sauce because the saute chef was not working that day/time. Lame! As much as I would like to say that I will miss Neptune, it’s really for nostalgia not for the recent service and quality of food.
Bel Aire > Neptune
As a forty something divorced woman in Astoria, this is one of the few places I can chow down on a bacon double cheeseburger deluxe, milkshake and cheesecake without being stared at or frowned upon. Do not get me wrong, its fun going to the new places and getting all the attention from the younger men in the area but sometimes i need more than just a salad with nuts and a tea spoonful of rice vinegar dressing.
Oh geezus really ??? I bit full of yourself …. those younger guys only see a desperate older chick and know you are easy pickins….
Are you hot? I’ll get a burger with you.
Totally overrated. The food sucks. I have to say though, a 34 year leased signed in 1984 was probably a good deal.
I agree with you Joan, I hope Burger King is next.
FYI, the reCAPTCHA on this site is bad. Works horribly.
This place is an Astoria institution but I hear the wrecking balls already. Gone are the diners. Let’s open up another fusion place. Greed.
Mikes diner, Tasty’s, Igloo cafe and many others are two blocks away.
There’s also Family Corner on 31st Street and 21st Ave. I hear it’s owned by a very good and hardworking family.
Family Corner is the best by far.
I’ve never had a good meal there, and I’ve tried (too) many times over the years.
Back in the days this was the place to go to after spending about an hour with my many girlfriends at the Westway Motor Inn. Those were the good old days in Astoria. Glory days are gone none but I am very happy in Bayside.
Is “ an hour with my girlfriends “, code for “we had sex with men for money”?
What happened for an hour ?
Astoria was not as gay as is it today.
As long as the mayor doesn’t built a jail around here I am fine with whatever happens to this location.
Neptune Diner is a landmark for us Astorians. Unfortunately, all good things must go. Lobster Bisque Friday will truly be missed.
Turn into a gym or halal eatery and it will be fine for the neighborhood nowadays.
This is the only restaurant in Astoria my mother is willing to go too when I visit her because she says she enjoys the free coffee refills they give her. I can not take her cooking anymore because she either burns everything, forgets ingredients or adds too much salt/pepper (my children get grossed out but I do not have the heart to tell her). This place has to stay open!! And I hope this gossip will not reach her acquaintances.
My papou loves the soups. Its the only thing he eats here and can manage to chew.
I live near this place and dealing with their constant omelet and onion smell for over 20 years. I hope it closes for good. The loud party crowd that gathers in the night for a bite to eat is also a major nuisance.
I hope the landlord raises you rent. See how you like them apples!
I own my home and also get rental income. I am glad they are getting rid of these old places, renovating the stations, updated the park and began renovating the old one story homes under the train. After I retire i plan on selling and moving to the suburbs of LI or Florida. Anything that increases my market value is a good thing for me. BTW, when someone gives you apples make apple sauce.
The diner needs a major upgrade and better customer service. They are operating on what worked 20 years ago and the reviews reflect that on yelp. I can not believe the owner hung up on Astoriapost when asked for a comment. We live in a social media world and they need to understand this.
Sometimes the tenant is the last to know about a place being sold because owners fear they might start withholding rent until there lease is up or it is sold to a buyer. The man on the phone might of answered thinking he was booking a reservation and to his surprise he was asked how he felt about going out of business. So based on probably his age he determined it was “fake news” and hung up.
It probably wasn’t the owner that they spoke to. I go there all the time and never see the owner. The manager acrs like he owns ut, it was probably him. Lol
Perfect location for affordable housing to be built. Astoria has enough eateries. I hope Burger King is next to go.
I’m liking a new luxury building please!
Are you also liking learning to write proper English?
Proper English doesn’t make more money.