New York’s Empire Diner: Kaputt
Chelsea’s iconic Empire Diner is closing. (The New Yorker cover was drawn on an iPhone, by the way.) Years ago, while new in town, I had a friend who was the night manager. I cannot tell you how many times I would roll in to the diner around 4 pm, sweaty and starving from disco dancing, and having spent my meagre funds already on drinks at the club, and my pal, Doug Hendrix, would serve me breakfast (ham and eggs; whole-grain toast) and put it on my “tab.” One night, I showed up with our mutual friend, Starla Smith, who was so “tipsy” that she threatened to “wreck the joint” if she didn’t get immediate service. She got service. Those were the days.
