A Vintage Diner with water views in the middle of the Hudson Valley....
Opportunities like this don't come often. The Elizaville Diner, Elizaville Deli, and the 2+ acre parcel they sit on are up for sale for the first time as a complete offering. These thriving businesses have served a loyal local following and weekenders alike for fifteen years. The Diner is an original Kullman Diner and its mid century charm has been featured in films as well as the cover of the book "Diners of NY." The Deli has had a recent remodel and is a blank slate for a successful commercial business. Located right in the middle of the booming Hudson Vally, this property is a short drive from Red Hook, Rhinebeck, and Hudson as well as Elizaville's many summer camps, Bard College, and the Taconic State Parkway. The parking lot offers ample parking spaces and the property sits perched over a very large pond with trees, picnic tables, and beautiful views. In the company of Lasting Joy, Tousey Winery, Hudson Valley Distillers, Rose Hill, and Greig Farm, this could be the next rural destination venue.
The Eatwell Diner in Lebanon, PA.
We looked at several diners on the East coast but found this to be one of the most original, unique and the right size to be moved across the many highways and bridges to Elizaville. The diner was formerly in Lebanon, Pa, and was named The Eatwell Diner. It was purchased from Hamdy Abusosha who was the second owner with a last name of Zeppo being the first. The diner had been built over and mostly enclosed to modernize the building to compete with modern chain restaurants that lined the highway. After looking inside the building and seeing the original diner mostly intact, we knew this was the diner we wanted.
It was purchased and moved three days before its scheduled demolition. When the surrounding building was being demolished, the diner was still serving coffee to patrons in Pa which finally ended when the power was going to be disconnected. The diner was eventually revealed from its enclosure and its original retro 1956 exterior was fully visible again. Even the previous owner stood across the highway admiring it saying, “I never knew it looked like that under all the additions.”
The diner disassembled into three pieces; the front half, the back half and the front vestibule. Included in the sale was all kitchen equipment and jukeboxes. The original stools had been previously removed from one half and replaced with booths right up against the front counter. The other half had a few replacement stools. Some of the back counter spring plate racks were also missing. By literally digging in the dirt basement, all 22 stool tops and 20 stool bases were found as well as all the plate wells and the original table tops.
After the diner arrived and was set on its new foundation in Elizaville, the restorative work began. We thought the original interior had a green tone and brass trim, but since smoking was still allowed in Pa at the time, we found a blue and stainless steel diner under all the nicotine and grease. The booths were removed from the front counter and the original stools were repaired and reinstalled. All the upholstery was redone. The handicapped door, which was bolted shut and had vines growing through it into the diner, was restored. The dessert cases were there, but all the glass had been replaced with plexiglass and duct tape. The like-original doors made with retro handles and restored interior lighting made the dessert cases and back counter shine. The original terrazzo floors were stripped and waxed and in excellent condition as well as all Formica panels. It really just needed to be put back together, a good cleaning and new upholstery. It was in amazingly good shape.
A brief history from the current owner…
