Astoria’s cherished Neptune Diner, a staple of short-order classics on Astoria Blvd. since 1984, will close its doors for good on Sunday, making way for a new high-rise.
“Everybody’s sad about it,” said Chris Maniatis, the diner’s manager. “People are coming to say their goodbyes.”
The family-owned Katsihtis business could not renew its lease, as the property is being sold by its current owner, the Thomas Anagnostopoulos Family Trust. The site will be redeveloped into a large residential complex.
The Neptune’s closure is part of a broader trend affecting classic diners across the borough, a situation worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent closures include the East Village’s Odessa, Flushing’s Kane’s Diner, and Rego Park’s Shalimar Diner.
The Anagnostopoulos family acquired the Neptune Diner’s property for $10.3 million in 2018 and, according to their attorney, Nick Tsoromokos, are expected to finalize the sale within the next two months.
Despite the loss of the Astoria location, the Katsihtis family’s other diners — the 12-year-old Neptune II in Brooklyn and the four-year-old Neptune Diner in Bayside — will remain open. However, Fradelakis noted, “The Astoria spot had my heart. It saddens me that an Astoria landmark is closing after so many years of