After Fire, Nearby Businesses Mull Pantry Diner's Future

During the early morning hours of Nov. 14,  a fire ripped through the Pantry Diner on Merrick Road, one that has rendered the old diner — around since 1949 — closed for business.

The fire, caused by an oven left on overnight, started in the kitchen and eventually spread through air ducts to the eatery's roof. The diner’s website states that they will be closed through at least New Year, and lists where patrons can find where different employees and staff are currently working.

Near the Pantry Diner, businesses have taken note of the diner’s absence.

“I don’t have much to say because I didn’t really go there,” said Kathi Belding, owner of Kathi’s Window Fashions across the street. “But of course I’d like to see it re-open and do well. I’d like to see any business in the area persevere and do well.”

“I’d order lunch a lot,” said Suki Jones, a partner at Tip To Toe Salon. “I enjoyed the Greek salad and the omelettes. I’m Korean so I’d like that I could order and try a lot of different things.”

“From time to time I was a patron there,” said Jerry Cullen, a manager at Allstate Insurance Company. “I’d like to see it re-open, sure why not?”

In terms of how the diner’s closing has affected businesses in the area, different views emerge.

“My clients would come from there or go from us to there all the time,” said Jones. “So we’ve had a lot of people coming in and asking if we know what’s going on with the diner. It’s a strange thing to see across the street so dead.”

Patch’s attempts to contact the diner or its owner were not returned, leaving the prospect of the re-opening date or current reconstruction progress up in the air.