Nautilus Diner Shuts Down

At midnight Thursday, the Nautilus Diner served a cheeseburger deluxe to one of their patrons. For now, it'll be the last meal they'll ever serve.

The eatery is shutting its doors, according to their owner Gus Efstathiou.

"We're closing after 41 years," he said. Efstathiou said he was ceasing operations because of a dispute involving the estate of his brother who co-owned the business with him before his death two years ago, but he would not elaborate further.

"We wish all of our customers good luck and we thank them for their patronage," he said. Workers were putting fencing around the business on Thursday afternoon.

The closing would mean the end of an era in Massapequa and the end of a successful business odyssey for Efstathiou who emigrated  to the U.S. from Cyprus in 1957. His brother followed two years later.

He saved the money he earned as a dishwasher before going into business with his brother.

"In 1960, we bought a broken down luncheonette in Long Beach and we made it successful," he said.

They purchased the site of the Nautilus on Merrick Road in 1969. "When we built this diner, it was small, only 80 seats. We built the new place in 1983 and it was one of the biggest diners on Long Island," Efstahiou said.

Since then the diner has serviced a loyal customer base with an extensive menu.

"It's an institution," said Debbie McKinney a longtime waitress at the diner. "I grew up here. Everything in my life has revolved around this place. I had my bridal shower here."

Mckinney said the diner has about 50 employees.  

Efstathiou said he doesn't know what's going to happen to the diner, and didn't rule out re-opening if the dispute can be resolved.

"In business everything is possible," he said. "Maybe someone else will buy it."