Feature
All in the Family
BY ANGELA MATUA
AMATUA@QNS.COM
Steve Kanellos has been running
the Court Square Diner in Long Island
City with his brother, Nick, since 1991.
The diner, a neighborhood staple
at 45-30 23rd St., has been feeding
hungry New Yorkers since 1946. While
many diners in the state have been
shutting down, Kanellos thinks that the
Court Square Diner will thrive for years
to come.
Kanellos, who was born in America
lived in Greece from the ages of 5 to
15, grew up working in the restau-rant
industry. When his family moved
back to Astoria and he began attend-ing
Long Island City High School, he
worked at local restaurants to make
extra cash.
Though he majored in computer pro-gramming
at St. John’s University to try
to avoid staying in the industry, Kanellos
and his brother bought a coffee shop
in Long Island City after he graduated.
34 DECEMBER 2017 I LIC COURIER I www.qns.com
Bebe’s at 39th Avenue and 21st Street
was the duo’s first venture. After a few
years, the brothers sold it and purchased
the Court Square Diner.
“Back then we didn’t even know what
Long Island City was,” he said. “People
from Astoria didn’t know what Long
Island City was.”
The diner was busiest on weekdays
for lunch and diner and “dead” on week-ends.
But as the crowds got younger and
more residential buildings and hotels
started popping up, things shifted.
“Through the years it changed,” he
said. “Now, sometimes it’s even busier
at night. The weekends are extremely
busy. It became more like a normal diner.”
Kanellos works 80-hour weeks and
oversees most of the operations with his
brother since there are no managers.
The secret to their success is the duo’s
flexibility and their willingness to change.
Their most popular dishes are the
Souvlaki platter and dishes like tuna and
chicken melts and burgers. Though they
frequently change the menu, they do not
Photos by Angela Matua/QNS
The diner is not only about the food.
You’re part of the neighborhood.
STEVE KANELLOS
Owner
