'Diner Man' Works To Save Rego Park's Shalimar From Demolition

REGO PARK, QUEENS — A local preservationist known for his success in saving New York's historic diners is trying to rescue Shalimar Diner in Rego Park from the wrecking ball.

Michael Perlman, founder of the Rego-Forest Preservation Council, launched an effort Thursday to stop the impending demolition of Shalimar Diner by finding someone to move the building from its current site at 63-68 Austin St. in Queens.

The structure itself would cost nothing, according to Perlman, but a buyer must come forward within 30 days to transport the diner elsewhere. That person would have to pay for rigging to move the building.

"Diners were manufactured to move," Perlman said, adding that Shalimar is the work of the Kullman Dining Car Company; the company brought Shalimar to Austin St. on a flatbed truck in 1974, according to Perlman.

Perlman would know — he has twice successfully brokered relocation deals for historic diners, prompting the New York Observer to nickname him "Diner Man." He previously found new homes for Soho's Moondance Diner and Midtown Manhattan's Cheyenne Diner, the Observer reported.

Shalimar, a Greek family diner was in business for 45 years, until it closed in November 2018 as a result of declining business and a rent hike, former owner Demi Karayiannis told the Forest Hills Post.

Shalimar's current owner bought the 14,000-square-foot site in November for $6.55 million in cash, according to QNS.com. Owner Arthur Koptiev has filed for demolition, the Forest Hills Post reported last week.

The iconic diner has appeared in CBS television show "Blue Bloods" and the movie "The Wolf of Wall Street."

Anyone interested in acquiring the Shalimar Diner and transporting it can contact Michael Perlman at unlockthevault@hotmail.com.