Empress Diner owner shares his history

Mike Panagatos, the owner of the Empress Diner, addressed the Merrick Bellmore AARP Chapter 4258 at its January meeting where he discussed the history of the Empress Diner and his experience in the field.

Panagatos’ father, Sam, purchased the Empress Diner after co-owning the Broadway Diner in Newark, N.J. Sam moved to N.Y. in the 1950s after a devastating earthquake hit Greece. His first job in America was as a dishwasher in a Manhattan diner. “When you come to this country and you don’t speak the language, you become a dishwasher,” said Mike.

After saving money for years, Sam became the boss. “Everybody wants to be the boss,” said Mike. “The Greeks are egotistical. They don’t like to work for anybody.”

The Greeks were always competing and each time an owner would open a diner, the next person would open a bigger diner, which is one reason why the menu at the Empress Diner has grown from one page to 12 pages. Diner owners also had to compete with chains and cater to all customers.

Mike grew up in the Empress Diner. He worked as a bus boy, dishwasher, waiter, manger, line cook, Sui chef, assistant chef, head chef and executive chef. His first task was to peel potatoes.

What sounds like an enjoyable experience takes dedication and practice. Mike attended culinary school and works six to seven days per week. His diner is open 24 hours per day, seven days per week. “Hurricane Irene, which we just had, was the first time we closed for any kind of natural disaster,” said Mike. “Every snow storm, now matter how much, we always stay open.”

Owning a diner is also a financial commitment. The yearly taxes at the Empress Diner reach $110,000 and Mike said that roughly 30 diners on Long Island have closed in the last five years.

Known for their homemade onion rings and cheesecake that Mike said is the best he’s ever had, the Empress Diner is located on Newbridge Road and Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow.

The Merrick Bellmore AARP Chapter 4258 meets monthly at Mepham High School in Merrick and is made up of members from throughout Nassau County. For more information about the organization, contact Bruce Serkes, (516) 972-2870.