Two More Long Island Diners Set to Close as Locals Say Goodbye

It’s the end of an era for two iconic Long Island diners, as both prepare to serve their final customers this week.

The Baldwin Coach Diner, a family-run spot that’s been part of Sunrise Highway since 1962, quietly closed its doors on Thursday. For decades, it was the kind of place where you didn’t just eat — you belonged. Locals came in for the pancakes, but stayed for the people. Regulars were treated like extended family, and even newcomers were welcomed like old friends.

Penny Kanaras, who has been running the diner since the sudden loss of her husband John last month, said the closure wasn’t easy — but it was necessary. “It’s personal, it’s financial, it’s emotional,” she said. “This diner was our life. But things have changed.”

Meanwhile in Huntington, the Golden Coach Diner — another neighborhood favorite — is also preparing to close up shop after 45 years. In a heartfelt message to customers online, the owners thanked the community for generations of support and memories. Their last day will be Monday, April 14.

The two closures add to a growing list of diners across the island that haven’t made it through the post-pandemic landscape. Between rising costs, staffing challenges, and shifting habits, the classic diner experience has become harder to keep alive.

“People just don’t go out the way they used to,” Penny said. “After COVID, the energy never really came back.”

But for many longtime residents, these weren’t just diners — they were staples of Long Island nightlife. After the clubs let out and the bars closed down, diners became the after-party. Disco fries, bacon egg and cheese sandwiches, and milkshakes at 4 a.m. were more than comfort food — they were rituals. A shared booth, a late-night laugh, a sense of place.

Now, with these closures, another chapter closes. And while new places will rise, the memories — and the smell of coffee at sunrise — will stick with the locals who called these diners home.