WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES FEBRUARY 15, 2018 15
Georgia Diner in Elmhurst to close & merge with neighbor diner
BY RYAN KELLEY
RKELLEY@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM
TWITTER @R_KELLEY6
A favorite dining spot along
Queens Boulevard is closing
its doors after 40 years of
serving the Elmhurst community,
but its tradition will live on just a
few blocks away.
Georgia Diner, founded in 1978, will
close at its original location on March
25 and merge with the Nevada Diner,
less than half a mile away on Queens
Boulevard. John Singh, a manager
at both diners (owned by the same
entrepreneur, Jimmy Kaloidis), said
that the Georgia Diner will bring its
famous name and most of its staff to
the new location, but not much else
will change.
“It’s the same food, the same service,
the same phone number, just a diff erent
address,” Singh said.
Singh explained that Kaloidis recently
decided to sell the building the
Georgia Diner has occupied for decades.
Aft er selling part of the parking lot to a
developer three years ago, Kaloidis was
recently off ered a price for the entire
property by the same developer and
decided to capitalize on it, Singh said.
The application for the demolition of
the diner was approved by the Department
of Buildings (DOB) on Feb. 7.
City records show that the diner
was sold for $14.25 million.
The Georgia Diner will replace the
Nevada Diner and bring its 24-hour
service along with it. Most of the Georgia
Diner employees will combine with
the old Nevada Diner staff to help with
the expected increase in business,
but a few people will have to be let go,
Singh said. The valet parking service
at the old Georgia Diner location won’t
be continued because the new location
has a bigger parking lot, but Singh said
they will bring it back if necessary.
Even though the Georgia Diner
isn’t moving far, the demolition of its
former site marks the end of an era.
“People know it very well, all of
the neighborhood, and the kids that
are now 40 years old that were born
there are really emotional,” Singh said.
“They’re going to miss it, and some of
them really started crying already.”
As for the merger, Singh expects it
to go smoothly. Business was never
a problem at the old Georgia Diner,
and Singh said their loyal customers
will continue to come to the new
location. Singh also explained that
with the increase in minimum wage
and the ever-rising costs of food
products, the merger will allow
them to continue off ering big meals
at aff ordable prices.
The site will have a much diff erent
appearance once the developer, My
Architect PC, is fi nished with the
project. According to DOB records,
the new structure will be 18 stories
high, with four fl oors of “community
facility” use and the remaining 14
stories for residential use with 184
apartments. Construction began in
2016 and the structure of the fi rst
four fl oors is currently in place.
Building that houses Rego Park Social Sec. offi ce hits the market
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
RPOZARYCKI@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM
@ROBBPOZ
A Rego Park building that houses
one of Queens’ four Social
Security Administration
offi ces is now for sale.
Cushman & Wakefi eld announced
on Feb. 12 that it’s handling the sale
of the fully renovated offi ce building
located at 63-44 Austin St., with a
listing price of $8.25 million.
The single-story building, encompassing
16,900 square feet, “is a
highly accessible, prime offi ce opportunity
located in a dense residential
neighborhood,” according to Thomas
Donovan, vice chairman of Cushman
& Wakefi eld. Donovan, along with
Tommy Linn, Eugene Kim and Robert
A. Rappa, are leading marketing efforts
on behalf of the property owner,
Ronco Realty LLC.
For years, 63-44 Austin St. has
housed offi ces for the Social Security
Administration, where residents can
seek assistance with various services
that the federal agency provides. The
administration has three other offi ces
in Long Island City, Flushing and
Jamaica. Many residents in nearby
Middle Village, Maspeth and Ridgewood
began visiting the Rego Park
offi ce aft er the one in Glendale shut
down in 2011.
Currently, the Social Security
Administration holds an active
lease on the property and isn’t
going anywhere for the time being.
Cushman & Wakefi eld noted that the
tenant is responsible for three-quarters
of the $2 million renovation that
was recently completed; the administration
is paying it back in monthly
installments over the next two years
at 7 percent interest.
Ronco Realty LLC purchased the
property in February 2016 for $7.35
million, according to Department
of Finance records. The building is
located in an R4 residential zoning
district with commercial overlays
allowing for multiple purposes, including
light manufacturing (such as
auto dealerships or garages).
Located less than a block from
63rd Drive, the offi ce is also within
walking distance of the Rego Center
Mall, Queens Boulevard and the 63rd
Drive subway station.
A spokesperson for Cushman
& Wakefi eld stated that the Social
Security Administration maintains
a seven-year lease on the property.
The lease does not have an out clause
by which the new owner could terminate
the agreement.
Photo via Google Maps
This offi ce building at 63-44 Austin St. in Rego Park is now for sale.
