EMPIRE DINER

Unlike any other building in the city, this is the expression of classic 1930’s Streamline design. A freestanding dining car, originally built to serve the factory and dock workers of the west side of Manhattan.

It was one of the first of its kind and unfortunately one of the last.

Featured in several movies over the years (MANHATTAN, HOME ALONE, MEN IN BLACK), it situated at the heart of the Chelsea art district adjacent to the highline and surrounded by galleries.

The original dining car was small. Half of the floor was occupied by the kitchen and the counter, leaving barely 30 seats for patrons. As a restaurant, it had failed under several previous owners, falling into disrepair.

Our clients of CAFETERIA, decided to undertake a radical gut renovation and expansion, seeking a fresh design that would appeal to a more sophisticated crowd.

To achieve a full-fledged functional restaurant in the space of a train car, we connected the original diner car to the adjacent building, creating a Place of Assembly for over 120 patrons. In addition, we expanded the kitchen to the cellar with new egresses for the staff.

All systems were upgraded, such as insulation and ventilation. New operable windows were introduced to replace stationary ones. The original details were disassembled and restored, without disrupting the identity of the diner car.

The interior design was developed with Nema workshop.