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A Route 66 and sa国际传媒官网网页入口 icon is going on the market.

The Bliss Building, which includes Lindy鈥檚 Diner and the former Elgin Hotel, will be put up for sale in January.

Co-owners Steve Vatoseow and his wife, Dawn Vatoseow, said they are ready to move on.

鈥淚f we can find the right buyer, we鈥檇 like to sell out,鈥� Steve said, adding that he hopes the building, located Downtown on the southwest corner of Fifth and Central, will be sold sometime in 2024.

Last December, they tried selling the building, but took it off the market in October due to a lack of 鈥渇irm offers,鈥� he said.

鈥淪o we kind of reevaluated what we wanted to do,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd it all (came) back to the same thing: it鈥檚 just time.鈥�

Serving the customers

Lindy鈥檚 Diner, which celebrates its 95th anniversary next year, was once known as the Coney Island Caf茅. The restaurant was famous for its 鈥淐oney Island鈥� chili-topped hot dog.

Over the years, the list of owners included Pete Bruskas, who operated the restaurant for more than 30 years.

Bruskas made Steve鈥檚 dad, Narke Vatoseow, a partner in 1964. Six years later, after a remodel, the business was renamed Lindy鈥檚 Coffee Shop (later Lindy鈥檚 Diner), The sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Tribune reported in February 1970.

Bruskas retired shortly thereafter, leaving Narke Vatoseow in charge. Narke would become known as the 鈥渕ayor of Fifth and Central鈥� because, son Steve said, 鈥渉e knew what was going on Downtown.鈥�

鈥淚f anyone had a question, they came to Narke for the answer to see what he thought about things,鈥� Dawn added.

Narke owned the restaurant until his death in 1994, when Steve, a cook at the restaurant at the time, took over.

One thing Steve said he learned from his father was how to treat patrons.

鈥淚 won鈥檛 say the customer is always right, but you have to please the customer in your establishment,鈥� Steve said. 鈥淚f they are willing to spend hard-earned money, you have to take care of them. You have to give them quality.鈥�

Brushes with fame

For the past few decades, the Vatoseows have not only served thousands of meals to hungry customers, but they got a taste of life in show business. Steve thinks the diner made a good film location because 鈥渋t鈥檚 got the look and feel that it could be in any city.鈥�

The restaurant has appeared in more than 30 movies and television shows including 鈥淭he Flock鈥� with Richard Gere, 鈥淏etter Call Saul鈥� and 鈥淩oswell,鈥� where it portrayed the fictitious 鈥淐rashdown Cafe.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 neat seeing the movie stars, but it鈥檚 a grind just watching them film,鈥� Steve said. 鈥淭hey do so many takes.鈥�

Even national politicians have stopped by Lindy鈥檚.

In 1996, former President Bill Clinton gave a speech outside the business. The restaurant put out a banner that read 鈥淟indy鈥檚 Diner Welcomes President Clinton.鈥� During the visit, Secret Service agents inspected the Bliss Building and enjoyed a meal.

But to the Vatoseows, more important than meeting a celebrity or being in a movie is their annual Thanksgiving dinner. Every year, they feed about 400 people from all walks of life .

鈥淚t鈥檚 just a meal, but it means so much for them to be able to come in and sit down and be around people and just be able to celebrate the holiday,鈥� Dawn said.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 always a high point in the year.鈥�

鈥楾he sky is the limit鈥�

As was the case with many Downtown businesses, Lindy鈥檚 was affected by the pandemic and a June 2020 riot that erupted after a protest and resulted in several businesses being damaged.

Downtown was shut down for weeks 鈥渨ith no business coming in,鈥� Dawn said.

As a result of COVID and staffing difficulties, Lindy鈥檚 has cut its hours. The diner used to be open from 8 a.m. to 3 a.m., and was the place to go after a night on the town, but it is now open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Vatoseows are continuing to do the best they can with the reduced hours and lack of help. But they are getting tired, and their three grown children are not interested in taking over the family business.

鈥淭hey know what it entails,鈥� Dawn said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not conducive to family life and it鈥檚 a lot of hours. It鈥檚 a hands-on business. When it鈥檚 open, you need to be here.鈥�

Steve said while it would be up to the prospective owner to decide what to do with the Bliss Building, he could see Lindy鈥檚 become a brewpub and the 22 upstairs rooms be turned into apartments.

鈥淭he sky is the limit with whatever they want to do,鈥� he said.