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“After 45 years, it’s time to say goodbye,” reads a sign in the window of The New Amity Restaurant at 1134 Madison Ave, between 84th and 85th streets.
The diner closed its doors on May 31.
photo by @adamgopnik
Stamitios Bastos worked at the diner since 1977, and owned it since 1990. The co-owner, Mario Stivaros, told the New York Post in a 2020 interview that his restaurant “feels like home. The waiters know everybody. The people are happy.”
“They try very hard and will do anything to make the customer happy,” reads one recent review. “Many, many neighborhood locals consider this their second kitchen. The rent is high, so the prices are high. But worth it for the nice, home-style feeling.”
“This review is a summary of 15+ years of eating at Amity,” wrote a long-time Patron in May. “The food is diner classic, yummy and quick and well priced. The service is friendly and kindly — they will get to know you. They know what we all like and bring it quickly — “the usual?” — and the coffee keeps coming. If you love diners the way they are supposed to be, see you there.”
Known for its cozy booths, seaside wall mural and roster of long-time regulars, The New Amity will be missed by many.
