Unable to Compete With National Chains, Another Beloved Bronx Diner Closes

After serving our borough for 37 years, Pelham Bay Diner has closed its doors forever.

Citing growing competition with big fast food chains in recent years, the owner has stated he had no choice but to close.

Rumors have been circulating that the property had been sold but a search of public records have revealed no sales of the land or property as of yet.

While the food may not have been the best for some palates, what’s sad about this besides all the workers now having to look for employment is that seniors in the area now have one less place to eat at.

Walk into any diner across The Bronx or the country and the one thing you’ll always see in common: Seniors.

Diners are a part of the local community for seniors, it is a safe space where they can get a meal even if they are lonely. They see the same friendly faces from the waitstaff who know them by name and look after them.

So for me, personally, it’s not so much about another place that is disappearing from my youth in our beloved borough but it is a needed space for one of our must vulnerable populations and that is the elderly.

Personally, I haven’t been at Pelham Bay Diner in a few years but it will be missed as a reliable quick stop along 95.

Pelham Bay Diner joins Crown Diner which closed last month after serving the Yankee Stadium area for 35 years.

Ed García Conde

Ed García Conde is a life-long Bronxite who spends his time documenting the people, places, and things that make the borough a special place in the hopes of dispelling the negative stereotypes associated with The Bronx. His writings are often cited by mainstream media and is often consulted for his expertise on the borough's rich history.