An iconic Sheepshead Bay restaurant is serving its last meal this week.
The El Greco Diner is closing its doors on Friday after more than 40 years in business. The Emmons Avenue business was sold on Dec. 12 and one of El Greco’s former owners said the buyers will be demolishing the building to build a new development, though he did not specify what it type of development.
“They gave me some indication that they’re going to do some type of development,” said Peter Venetoklis, who is one of the diner’s several familial owners and would not disclose the selling price. “They’re knocking the building down.”
The diner was severely damaged during Hurricane Sandy — it lost more than $60,000 worth of food in the superstorm and the electrical outage that followed — and Venetoklis said that the family had been trying to sell the business for more than a year.
“We’ve known it has been coming for a while for various reasons,” he said. “It is almost a given that it makes sense economically.”
But one resident said he is upset that developers are using the devastating storm as leverage over business owners. He said it wouldn’t surprise him if the developer’s plans included condos or apartments, especially because there are several other major developments happening in the area.
“Developers are licking their chops, they smell opportunity,” said Steve Barrison, the president of the Bay Improvement Group, adding that developers are building residential towers in Brighton Beach and on Sheepshead Bay Road. “Generally developers want to put in housing — you have three major things now.”
For longtime locals, the loss of the seaside staple is a devastating blow. One resident, who grew up only a 10-minute walk away from the eatery, said the diner was a big part of her life growing up.
“Our dad would take us there every Sunday morning for breakfast,” said Denise Chavez, who held her high school graduation celebration at El Greco. “I remember when the booths had jukeboxes and we could listen to music. It was a great place to go get breakfast with the family.”
Venetoklis agreed that the sale is bittersweet for his own family.
“My father built the place 40 years ago but we all know nothing’s forever,” said Venetoklis. “We’re still processing.”
