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Ellen's Stardust Diner

Coordinates:40°45′43″N73°59′00″W/ 40.76182°N 73.9834°W/40.76182; -73.9834
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Ellen's Stardust Diner
Map
Restaurantinformation
Established1987(1987)
Owner(s)Ellen Hart Sturm
Food typeAmerican cuisine[1]
Street address1650 Broadway(at 51st Street)
CityNew York City
CountyNew York
StateNew York
Postal/ZIP Code10019
CountryUnited States
Coordinates40°45′43″N73°59′00″W/ 40.76182°N 73.9834°W/40.76182; -73.9834
ReservationsNot Available[2]
Other informationGroup events and parties can be booked by visiting the website.
Websitewww.ellensstardustdiner.com

Ellen's Stardust Dineris a retro 1950s theme restaurant located at1650Broadway[3]on the southeast corner of51st StreetinTheater District,Manhattan,New York City.[2]The diner is regarded as one of the besttheme restaurantsin New York owing to its singing waitstaff.[4]The diner also contains retro-themed memorabilia such as photos of many pastMiss Subwayson the walls, an indoor train, a 1956Predicta television,and a “drive-in theater” screen that showcases performances of the 1950s. It is popular among children and adults.[1]

History[edit]

Ellen's Stardust Diner was opened in 1987 after Ellen's Cafe was closed down.[5][6]It was the first 1950s theme restaurant inNew York Cityand had waitresses inpoodle skirts.[5]In the late 1990s, a sister restaurant operated nearTimes Squareunder the name Stardust Dine-O-Mat.[6]

During 2016–2017, the restaurant saw a period of unrest, when it was alleged that 31 waiters were fired after attempting to form a union with theIndustrial Workers of the World,and the restaurant counter-claimed that the terminated employees had defrauded it of hundreds of thousands of dollars. In October 2017, a settlement was agreed to give the fired workers the opportunity to return to their jobs if they wished, and to give them back pay from the date of their firing. The settlement came about days before the issue was due to come to trial following a decision by theNational Labor Relations Board.[7]

In popular culture[edit]

Ellen's Stardust Diner was the site in the movieNew Year's EvewhereSarah Jessica Parker’s character and her 15-year-old daughter's friends stopped for a bite after theball dropped.[8]It was also featured inAmerican Idolwhen a former employee, Devyn Rush, became a contestant on the show. Reports subsequently followed regarding Devyn's employment status at Ellen's Stardust Diner.[9]Ellen's Diner was also featured on aToday Showepisode.[10]

Alumni on Broadway[edit]

Singer at Ellen's Stardust Diner in 2014.

Several Ellen's Stardust Diner singing waitstaff have gone on to perform inBroadway theatre,includingBrandi Massey.[11]In 2013, then-staffers Brandon Ellis, Eric Michael Krop, and Stephen Tyler Davis received critical acclaim for writing or performing in original musicals at theNew York Musical Theater Festival.Other former staff have starred or performed in Broadway and major off-Broadway musicals, includingAvenue Q,Jersey Boys,The Lion King,South Pacific,In The Heights,On The Town,Wicked,andGodspell.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ab"Ellen's Stardust Diner – New York".Weekendnotes.com. February 24, 2010.RetrievedJanuary 30,2013.
  2. ^ab"Contact « Ellens Stardust Diner | Home of the Singing Waitstaff".Ellensstardustdiner.com. Archived fromthe originalon October 10, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 30,2013.
  3. ^"The 4 Best Themed Restaurants In New York City".CBS New York. August 31, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 30,2013.
  4. ^abNiteLifeExchange."Ellen's Stardust Diner Staffers Showcase Three New Musicals at NY Musical Theatre Festival".Nitelifeexchange.com. Archived fromthe originalon July 30, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 30,2013.
  5. ^abColangelo, Lisa L. (April 27, 2001)."Ellen's Cafe Sez Farewell, City Hall".Daily News.New York.RetrievedJanuary 30,2013.
  6. ^abFriedwald, Will (September 30, 2010)."Saluting a Maker of Local Landmarks".Wall Street Journal.ISSN0099-9660.RetrievedSeptember 16,2021.
  7. ^Nir, Sarah Maslin (October 4, 2017)."Singing Waiters, Once Fired, Will Hit the Red Vinyl Stage Again".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedSeptember 16,2021.
  8. ^Bierly, Mandi (December 12, 2011)."'New Year's Eve': 10 plot points that would never happen ".Popwatch.ew.com.RetrievedJanuary 30,2013.
  9. ^"'Idol' Waitress Loses Job After 'A.I.' Audition ".TMZ. January 25, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 30,2013.
  10. ^"Today Gets A Laugh: Kathie Lee & Hoda Serve Up a Song".NBC.Archived fromthe originalon March 3, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 30,2013.
  11. ^Byrne, Kerry J. (October 9, 2021)."Ellen's Stardust Diner to reopen amid Broadway's struggle to recapture fans".New York Post.RetrievedDecember 15,2021.