Bay Shore's Peter Pan Diner plans to rebuild with 'more modern' look, co-owner says

Family owners of Bay Shore’s well-known Peter Pan Diner said they hope to reopen the eatery in October, nearly a year after a kitchen fire closed the doors of the local institution.

The interior of the diner, at 999 Sunrise Hwy., has already been demolished and the business plans to file building permits with the Village of Brightwaters  within the next week or two, said Peter Lentzeres, 65, second generation co-owner of the restaurant. If approved in the coming weeks, construction on a “more modern” look for the Peter Pan will begin quickly, with a planned opening in three or four months, Lentzeres  said  Monday.

“It took longer than I expected,” Lentzeres said. “Everything went fine with insurance, but it takes time. I’m anxious to get back to my life.”

An overnight fire on July 2 last year gutted the diner’s kitchen, leading to the closure, Lentzeres said.

The fire was reported around 1:40 a.m. Firefighters from several departments brought the blaze under control at 3:37 a.m. The kitchen and other parts of the property sustained significant damage, but there were no reports of injuries.

Later that day, Lentzeres and his wife, Angela, vowed in front of a gathering of customers, employees and community members that the community fixture would reopen.

“It’s going to be a year July 2, so it’s been a while,” said Angela Lentzeres.

Peter Lentzeres, whose father bought the diner — built in 1955 — in 1959, said while the number of customer seats will remain roughly the same at around 160, he wants to make some changes.

“I’m trying to modernize it but I also want people to come and still realize we’re still their diner,” he said. Lentzeres plans to add a coffee bar that will offer more up-to-date coffee drinks, a traditional alcohol-serving bar and a new serving counter.

He also plans to revamp the menu with some newer items but will “keep the main basic diner items that people love.”

The diner’s closure has given Lentzeres an opportunity to appreciate the community’s love of the establishment.

Over the past year, locals have taken to Facebook and Reddit to lament the closure of the diner and speculate on whether it would reopen. 

“Interacting with the community was the best thing that ever happened to me,” he said. “Their kindness and their words… It was overwhelming. It really meant a lot.”