Andy's Diner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Andy's Diner |
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Andy's Diner, pictured facing south in 2008, following its closure
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1949 |
| Closed | 2008 |
| Previous owner(s) | Andy Nagy, Andy Yurkanin |
| Food type | Diner fare |
| Street address | 2963 4th Ave S |
| City | Seattle |
| State | Washington |
| Postal/ZIP code | 98134 |
Andy's Diner (also called Andy's Railroad) was a special restaurant in Seattle, Washington. It was built using old train cars! This unique diner opened in 1949 and served customers until it closed in 2008. Before Andy's, a regular diner stood in the same spot since 1930.
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What was Andy's Diner like?
Andy's Diner was known as a "slice of Route 66 Americana." This means it felt like a classic American roadside stop. It was located in an industrial part of Seattle called SoDo. The restaurant was made up of several old railway cars joined together. The menu offered typical diner food, like burgers and fries.
The Story of Andy's Diner
Andy "Big Andy" Nagy started Andy's Diner in 1949. Later, his nephew, Andy "Little Andy" Yurkanin, joined the business. The idea to use train cars for the restaurant came from a similar place in Spokane.
The diner started with just one train car. Over time, it grew to include seven cars! One of these cars was even used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during his 1944 election campaign.
During its busiest times, Andy's Diner served up to 1,200 people for lunch every day. It was known as a favorite spot for working people. Even the head of Boeing, Thornton Wilson, was a regular customer.
In the 1960s, the two Andys tried to open a chain of restaurants based on the comic strip Li'l Abner, but it didn't work out. However, they did open other restaurants in the Pacific Northwest that were also housed in train cars. These included Andy's Tukwila Station, Eugene Station, and Andy's Auburn Station.
In 1980, the founder, Andy Nagy, passed away. Andy Yurkanin continued to run the diner until he retired in 1996. His son then took over the business. Eventually, the Yurkanin family sold the diner to a group of local restaurant owners. However, the land itself was still owned by Seattle real estate developer Henry Liebman.
New Owners and Closing Down
Andy's Diner closed briefly in 2000 for renovations. It then reopened under its first new management since 1949. But eight years later, in 2008, the restaurant closed for good. One of the co-owners, Bill Howard, explained that the business was no longer making enough money. He said that "times have changed since the heyday of Andy's Diner."
What Happened Next? The Orient Express
After Andy's Diner closed in January 2008, the property owner, Henry Liebman, looked for new renters. He hoped a new restaurant would succeed because of the good parking and its closeness to sports stadiums like Safeco Field and Qwest Field.
In October 2008, a Chinese restaurant called the Orient Express opened in the same train cars that used to be Andy's Diner. Even though the menu changed from diner food to American Chinese cuisine, many old customers of Andy's Diner came to the Orient Express. The Seattle Times reported this success. Seattle Weekly praised the Orient Express because it kept the original diner's decorations. The newspaper even mentioned a mysterious dish on the menu called "Henry Liebman's Noodle Soup."
Andy's Diner's Legacy
Andy's Diner was one of two train-themed restaurants in Seattle that closed around that time. The other was the Iron Horse. The closure of Andy's Diner made people remember how special these unique places were. Menus from Andy's Diner are kept safe in the special collections at the Seattle Public Library.
