Hollywood Diner to Reopen in Chelsea After Two-Alarm Fire
The beloved eatery, located at 6th Ave. and W. 16th St., was shut down when a two-alarm fire erupted in the duct work of the restuarant on August 28. Area residents were worried that the beloved local institution was gone forever, but a sign that appeared on the door in recent days now says a return is “coming soon!”
The Hollywood Diner will be returning to local Chelsea customers after a fire at 574 6th Ave. on August 28, although a specific reopening date has not been given. Multiple hand-posted signs on the restaurant’s windows and doors merely note that it will “coming soon!”
When reached for comment by Chelsea News, an employee of the diner confirmed that the diner was on the verge of reopening, but otherwise said that they were busy repairing the restaurant and did not have time for an interview.
The blaze began in the ductwork began at around 11:11 a.m. that day, the FDNY told Chelsea News at the time. It was deemed a two-alarm fire by 11:30 a.m. A total of 106 firefighters were on scene to quench the fire, which took them until 12:50 p.m., or nearly an hour-and-a-half. Two FDNY members were mildly injured, and taken to Lenox Hill Hospital branch in Greenwich Village.
Locals who frequented the diner were devastated at the time, and appeared worried that they might be losing it for good. Shadparie Bokharaie, expressed her worries that day on the NextDoor app: “What happened!?!?! I’m planning on going to that area today and will check to see what it looks like! My favorite diner of 15 years!!!!!”
Avra Cohen wished for the injured firefighters’ speedy recovery, referring to them by their popular nickname of “New York’s Bravest.”
Pamela B. chimed in by saying “I love this place. If anyone has an update, please post!”
Sure enough, Bokharaie was back to spread the good news on September 5. “Update on Hollywood diner! It says OPENING SOON! But there is no opening date! Hopefully they will be open soon so we can dine there again! I am craving their cheese burger deluxe and delicious coleslaw!” Bokharie noted that two windows above the diner were still shattered and replaced by boards, which she observed might pose a lingering threat to diners, if broken glass remained.
Indeed, those windows belonged to another business on the second floor of 574 6th Ave., a branch of the fitness chain known as Body Evolutions. On the day of the fire, an AMNy reporter talked to a harried Bill Macagnone, who owned that store. “It was from where the grease trap is. There’s a smokestack that goes up the side of the building. It got so dark and smoky fast. I grabbed whatever I could and ran out,” he said.
The FDNY confirmed to Chelsea News that it had broken some windows, in order to ventilate the building and combat the blaze.
True to its name, the Hollywood Diner provides a Los Angeles-themed experience for patrons, with movie stars imprinted in a frieze tableau on the ceiling. It is unclear whether that glitzy feature was damaged in the fire.
“Hollywood Diner brings the tastes of classic Americana and a touch of Hollywood glamour to Manhattan,” the restaurant’s website proclaims. “From Tuna Melts to Chicken Pot Pie, there’s something for everyone here.”