HISTORIC MOONDANCE DINER TO BE SPARED - Reader comments at The New York Sun

Reader comment on:
Goodnight, Moondance

Submitted by Diner, Jul 31, 2007 06:45

HISTORIC MOONDANCE DINER TO BE SPARED

NEW YORK, N.Y. - In early August, diner patrons, preservationists, &
community groups, will be "dancing on the moon," as the culturally &
architecturally significant Moondance Diner (80 6th Ave, SoHo), will
be spared from demolition and has found a new home. The Moondance
Diner will soon be transported to La Barge, Wyoming where it will
again serve a population of five hundred plus at growing tourist
industry.

New Owners Vince & Cheryl Pierce are quite excited about the diners a

Michael Perlman, Queens's preservationist & founder of the Committee
To Save The Moondance Diner, and Kyle Supley, a Brooklyn historic
preservationist, immediately joined forces & campaigned to save the
diner, when its fate was in limbo earlier this year. Perlman urged &
worked with Extell Development, who generously donated the diner to
the American Diner Museum the Rhode Island non-profit, and the only
organization in the United States devoted to the preservation,
history & restoration of historic factory built diners.

The Moondance Diner is a highlight in terms of its diverse patronage
including celebrities, and the motion picture, sitcom, & Broadway
world (Spiderman, Friends, Igby Goes Home, Sex in the City, etc).
This is also where Jonathan Larson was employed for a decade prior to
producing the Tony Award winning Broadway musical RENT. The Mondance
Diner, formerly called the Holland Tunnel Diner, retains several
original &/or distinctive elements; chrome detailing, a barrel roof
ceiling, wrap-around windows, counter & stools, as well as a famed
retro revolving moon sign by the late architect/designer Alan
Buchsbaum & designer/signmaker Jim Rogers.

According to Daniel Zilka , Director of the American Diner Museum, A
true "diner" is a prefabricated structure built at an assembly site
and transported to a permanent location for installation to serve
prepared food

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
The Moondance Diner was of those places that gave Soho character. Unfortunately, the fate of the Moondance is what is... [MORE]	Jean Standish	Aug 19, 2007 00:44
HISTORIC MOONDANCE DINER TO BE SPARED NEW YORK, N.Y. - In early August, diner patrons, preservationists, & community groups, will be...	Diner	Jul 31, 2007 06:45
Unfortunately, whoever built the place didn't design it to survive a Wyoming blizzard. The roof caved in last night from... [MORE]	Orion	Jan 5, 2008 13:50
Is anyone really suprised? CBGB, Wetlands, The Palladium, the Garage, 2ND AVE Diner, HARLEM (altogether), Empire Rink...! This is nothing... [MORE]	Corey	May 10, 2007 12:23
Greetings Diner Fans! I sympathize with your recent comments. I take pride in informing you that an art auction/fundraiser to... [MORE]	Michael	May 2, 2007 04:33
This is one of the memories of Jonathan Larson.No way can they tear it down.I can't even write down how... [MORE]	MaryKate	Mar 19, 2007 18:45
How dare they! The moondance is a historic place in Broadway theatre! Jonathan Larson, the creator of RENT, worked there!... [MORE]	Mimi	Mar 15, 2007 19:59
I have spoken to the owner, a man named Sunis. He wants to save the diner, but seems to not... [MORE]	Kyle	Mar 14, 2007 10:32
Larry Pannish.............a friend for 30 years.........owned the moondance. Michael J. Fox was part of our RISK games at the moondance.... [MORE]	Darryl Rolandelli	Mar 6, 2007 18:44
This is so not fair! I'm a huge renthead, and I've always wanted to go to the Moondance diner to... [MORE]	Chelsea	Mar 6, 2007 15:37
This place mixed up the greatest Rum and Tabs in the business.......BEST banana pancakes in the business....and burgers. Found... [MORE]	rick benko	Mar 7, 2007 09:34
Because I designed the logo for my friend and former owner of the Moondance, Larry. I remember how Larry had... [MORE]	Tim	Mar 6, 2007 13:58
I have been to the Moondance Diner. The first time was because I am a RENTHead, and I just had... [MORE]	Sarah	Mar 5, 2007 16:23
Real estate developers are rapidly replacing lawyers as the butt of jokes about soullessness. Hasn't it occurred to them that... [MORE]	Laurence Cantor	Mar 3, 2007 09:01
How can you tear it down?! This sounds a little close to RENT. Tearing down this landmark in lue of... [MORE]	Paul	Feb 27, 2007 16:22
Paul, the author of RENT was actually the manager there at Moondance while he wrote it. [MORE]	Tim	Mar 6, 2007 14:06
How dare anyone tear down such a landmark. I think it would be a disgrace if they tore it down... [MORE]	kim Herndonm	Feb 26, 2007 14:39
Is there anything being done to try to stop this? There's got to be something that can be done! At... [MORE]	Sara	Feb 27, 2007 07:51
We Rentheads and every other person out there needs to get involved and become active in Saving Moondance. It would... [MORE]	Kim Herndon	Feb 27, 2007 11:23
How can people be SO heartless as to tear down this beautiful monument, not only to New York, but to... [MORE]	Sami	Feb 27, 2007 11:53
Is anything being done? If not, we need to start something immediately. I may be in Texas but we have... [MORE]	Sara	Feb 27, 2007 21:01
Thediner is a historic landmark. We cannot allow something so historic to be torn down for the overpriced new york... [MORE]	Danielle	Feb 26, 2007 04:43
I am a young worker at the production facility next door to the Moondance diner, and feel that this establishment... [MORE]	Kyle	Feb 27, 2007 13:05
That's good thinking. And it's nice to hear from someone who's right there near the site. I don't know any... [MORE]	Sara	Feb 28, 2007 14:19
I have to say that hearing the news of Moondance being torn down is extremely depressing to me. This is... [MORE]	Amanda Laforet	Feb 25, 2007 22:51
The only establishments that can afford to be in these condo developments are the Duane Reades and Starbucks'. My neighborhood... [MORE]	Keithrez	Feb 14, 2007 09:05
Some say the only thing constant is change "nothing is forever". New York real estate is every escalating with property... [MORE]	Ed Haynes	Feb 13, 2007 16:44
As a RENT fan. I can't be more than angry this has (if it happened, im not sure) taken place.... [MORE]	Roxy Collins	Jun 29, 2007 23:39