Ellen's Stardust Diner
{{Short description|1950s theme restaurant on Broadway, New York City}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox restaurant
| name = Ellen's Stardust Diner
| logo = Ellen's Stardust logo.gif
| logo_width = 150px
| logo_alt =
| image = Ellen's Stardust.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map =
| map_width =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| slogan =
| established = {{Start date|1987}}
| current-owner = Ellen Hart Sturm
| chef =
| head-chef =
| food-type = American cuisine{{cite web|url=http://www.weekendnotes.com/ellens-stardust-diner/ |title=Ellen's Stardust Diner – New York |publisher=Weekendnotes.com |date=February 24, 2010 |access-date=January 30, 2013}}
| dress-code =
| rating =
| street-address = 1650 Broadway (at 51st Street)
| city = New York City
| county = New York
| state = New York
| postcode = 10019
| country = United States
| coordinates = {{coord|40.76182|-73.9834|type:landmark_region:US-NY|display=inline,title}}
| seating-capacity =
| other-locations =
| other-information = Group events and parties can be booked by visiting the website.
| website = {{URL|http://www.ellensstardustdiner.com/}}
}}
Ellen's Stardust Diner is a retro 1950s theme restaurant located at 1650 Broadway{{cite web|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/guide/themed-restaurants-in-nyc/ |title=The 4 Best Themed Restaurants In New York City |publisher=CBS New York |date=August 31, 2011 |access-date=January 30, 2013}} on the southeast corner of 51st Street in Theater District, Manhattan, New York City. The diner is regarded as one of the best theme restaurants in New York owing to its singing waitstaff.{{cite web|author=NiteLifeExchange|title=Ellen's Stardust Diner Staffers Showcase Three New Musicals at NY Musical Theatre Festival|url=http://www.nitelifeexchange.com/news-mainmenu-55/current-news/1829-ellens-stardust-diner-staffers-showcase-three-new-musicals-at-ny-musical-theatre-festival.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730012848/http://www.nitelifeexchange.com/news-mainmenu-55/current-news/1829-ellens-stardust-diner-staffers-showcase-three-new-musicals-at-ny-musical-theatre-festival.html|archive-date=July 30, 2013|access-date=January 30, 2013|publisher=Nitelifeexchange.com|df=mdy}} The diner also contains retro-themed memorabilia such as photos of many past Miss Subways on the walls, an indoor train, a 1956 Predicta television, and a “drive-in theater” screen that showcases performances of the 1950s. It is popular among children and adults.
History
Ellen's Stardust Diner was opened in 1987 after Ellen's Cafe was closed down.{{cite news| last=Colangelo |first=Lisa L. |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/ellen-cafe-sez-farewell-city-hall-article-1.906952 |title=Ellen's Cafe Sez Farewell, City Hall |work=Daily News |location=New York |date=April 27, 2001 |access-date=January 30, 2013}}{{Cite news|last=Friedwald|first=Will|date=2010-09-30|title=Saluting a Maker of Local Landmarks|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703882404575520413058452200|access-date=2021-09-16|issn=0099-9660}} It was the first 1950s theme restaurant in New York City and had waitresses in poodle skirts. In the late 1990s, a sister restaurant operated near Times Square under the name Stardust Dine-O-Mat.
During 2016–2017, the restaurant saw a period of unrest, when it was alleged that 31 waiters were fired after attempting to form a union with the Industrial Workers of the World, and the restaurant counter-claimed that the terminated employees had defrauded it of hundreds of thousands of dollars. In October 2017, a settlement was agreed to give the fired workers the opportunity to return to their jobs if they wished, and to give them back pay from the date of their firing. The settlement came about days before the issue was due to come to trial following a decision by the National Labor Relations Board.{{Cite news|last=Nir|first=Sarah Maslin|date=2017-10-04|title=Singing Waiters, Once Fired, Will Hit the Red Vinyl Stage Again|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/04/nyregion/ellens-stardust-diner-labor-dispute.html|access-date=2021-09-16|issn=0362-4331}}
In popular culture
Ellen's Stardust Diner was the site in the movie New Year's Eve where Sarah Jessica Parker’s character and her 15-year-old daughter's friends stopped for a bite after the ball dropped.{{cite web|last=Bierly |first=Mandi |date=December 12, 2011 |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/12/12/new-years-eve/ |title='New Year's Eve': 10 plot points that would never happen |publisher=Popwatch.ew.com |access-date=January 30, 2013}} It was also featured in American Idol when a former employee, Devyn Rush, became a contestant on the show. Reports subsequently followed regarding Devyn's employment status at Ellen's Stardust Diner.{{cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2011/01/25/american-idol-waitress-devyn-rush-fired-restaurant-new-york-ellens-stardust-diner/#.T3IFS1H3Cis |title='Idol' Waitress Loses Job After 'A.I.' Audition |publisher=TMZ |date=January 25, 2011 |access-date=January 30, 2013}} Ellen's Diner was also featured on a Today Show episode.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcuniversalarchives.com/nbcuni/clip/51111975215_s49.do |title=Today Gets A Laugh: Kathie Lee & Hoda Serve Up a Song |publisher=NBC |access-date=January 30, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222707/http://www.nbcuniversalarchives.com/nbcuni/clip/51111975215_s49.do |archive-date=March 3, 2016}}
Alumni on Broadway
File:Ellen's Stardust Diner (Manhattan, New York) 006.jpg
Several Ellen's Stardust Diner singing waitstaff have gone on to perform in Broadway theatre, including Brandi Massey.{{Cite web|last=Byrne|first=Kerry J.|date=2021-10-09|title=Ellen's Stardust Diner to reopen amid Broadway's struggle to recapture fans|url=https://nypost.com/2021/10/09/ellens-stardust-diner-to-reopen-amid-broadways-struggles/|access-date=2021-12-15|website=New York Post|language=en-US}} In 2013, then-staffers Brandon Ellis, Eric Michael Krop, and Stephen Tyler Davis received critical acclaim for writing or performing in original musicals at the New York Musical Theater Festival. Other former staff have starred or performed in Broadway and major off-Broadway musicals, including Avenue Q, Jersey Boys, The Lion King, South Pacific, In The Heights, On The Town, Wicked, and Godspell.
References
{{commons category}}
{{reflist}}
{{Midtown North, Manhattan}}
{{Broadway (Manhattan)}}
{{Restaurants in Manhattan}}
Category:Diners in New York (state)
Category:Restaurants established in 1987
Category:Restaurants in Manhattan