Lindy's Diner owners say they will put restaurant up for sale Jan. 1

Dec. 22—A Route 66 and Albuquerque icon is going on the market.

The Bliss Building, which includes Lindy's 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.

"If we can find the right buyer, we'd like to sell out," 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 "firm offers," he said.

"So we kind of reevaluated what we wanted to do," he said, "and it all (came) back to the same thing: it's just time."

Serving the customers

Lindy's Diner, which celebrates its 95th anniversary next year, was once known as the Coney Island Café. The restaurant was famous for its "Coney Island" 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's dad, Narke Vatoseow, a partner in 1964. Six years later, after a remodel, the business was renamed Lindy's Coffee Shop (later Lindy's Diner), The Albuquerque Tribune reported in February 1970.

Bruskas retired shortly thereafter, leaving Narke Vatoseow in charge. Narke would become known as the "mayor of Fifth and Central" because, son Steve said, "he knew what was going on Downtown."

"If anyone had a question, they came to Narke for the answer to see what he thought about things," 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.

"I won't say the customer is always right, but you have to please the customer in your establishment," Steve said. "If they are willing to spend hard-earned money, you have to take care of them. You have to give them quality."

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 "it's got the look and feel that it could be in any city."

The restaurant has appeared in more than 30 movies and television shows including "The Flock" with Richard Gere, "Better Call Saul" and "Roswell," where it portrayed the fictitious "Crashdown Cafe."

"It's neat seeing the movie stars, but it's a grind just watching them film," Steve said. "They do so many takes."

Even national politicians have stopped by Lindy's.

In 1996, former President Bill Clinton gave a speech outside the business. The restaurant put out a banner that read "Lindy's Diner Welcomes President Clinton." 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 .

"It's 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," Dawn said.

"That's always a high point in the year."

'The sky is the limit'

As was the case with many Downtown businesses, Lindy's 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 "with no business coming in," Dawn said.

As a result of COVID and staffing difficulties, Lindy's 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.

"They know what it entails," Dawn said. "It's not conducive to family life and it's a lot of hours. It's a hands-on business. When it's open, you need to be here."

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

"The sky is the limit with whatever they want to do," he said.