Water View Diner closes its doors

BY TONIA N. CIMINO and CHRISTINA SANTUCCI

Wednesday, March 5, 2008 11:35 AM EST

As the Water View Diner officially shuttered its doors on Tuesday, March 4, Cathy Cosenza, 14-year employee, said it was “like leaving a family.”

“I’m here 14 years and it’s not like work, it’s a second home,” she said. “The people you work with, they’re not like co-workers, they’re like family.”

A neighborhood institution serving generations for nearly 30 years at 163-30 Cross Bay Boulevard in Howard Beach, rumors of Water View’s closing have been swirling for about a year-and-a-half.

And on Tuesday, the rumors came true.

Steve Pappas, one of Water View’s three owners, said he, John Heliotis and Phillip Kardiasmenos operated the eatery “because I wanted to do good for ourselves, do good for the community and also south Queens.”

Heliotis told The Courier Sun that, after several offers by Wharton Realty to buy out the remaining 30 years on the lease, the partners finally accepted.

“Nothing stays forever,” he said.

Repeated calls to Elliot Tawil, one of the principals of Wharton Realty, were not returned as of press time.

According to Heliotis, Wharton also purchased the Staples next door, at 163-50 Cross Bay Boulevard.

Rula Stratigakis, working at Water View for the past 25 years, said that the diner was redone three years ago and originally “they had no plans of closing.”

“But John got sick, Phillip was working seven days a week, and as things got worse for them - the job is hard, demanding, no vacations, no holidays - they were eventually persuaded to sell the lease,” said Stratigakis.

“We knew they were negotiating, but never believed the day would come,” she continued, speaking of how the staff of 54 was told Tuesday, February 26.

Stratigakis, whose daughter-in-law worked at the Water View for a few years and granddaughter Isabella, 7, would often go to help out, went on to say how everyone -from employees to long-time patrons - was “devastated” at news that the diner, a mainstay in the close-knit Howard Beach community, would be closing.

Mandy Heliotis, 22, daughter of owner John, said, “I grew up at the diner. It’s hard to leave that.”

Howard Beach residents Frances Esposito and Allan Serpenti have been going to the Water View for four years.

“We are like a family here,” Esposito said after giving an emotional goodbye to Stratigakis.

“On everybody’s birthday, Rula always gave us cake and cookies,” Serpenti added.

As for the staff, many have already found new jobs - the owners went to the Cross Bay Diner and Esquire Diner in order to recommend employees - but all said nothing would compare to working at Water View.

“The bosses have been very helpful in recommending us for new jobs,” said George Jimenes, a bus boy for nine years.

According to George, the manager of the Water View, those two diners took on quite a few of the staff because they are anticipating more business after the Water View closes.

Ginny Romaine, a waitress who has been working there since 1996, said, “It’s going to be a heartbreaker.” Romaine plans to work at the IHop on 98th Street and Liberty Avenue when it opens up.

“We had a fantastic work environment,” said Stratigakis, who will be working at the Esquire. “It’s like an extended family. We are close with the customers and socialize outside [the diner]. We’ve had customers crying for the last few days [since announcing they were closing].”

Dorris and Marvin Rubinstein of Howard Beach have been going to the eatery for at least 10 years.

“We know her problems. She knows our problems. It’s like a family,” Doris said of Rula. “It’s very sad. Now I’ll have to start cooking.”

Heliotis said that after “relaxing this summer,” the three partners would open another eatery.

- With additional reporting by Michael Wursthorn