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It won’t be long before the coffee cups are clinking and the conversations are flowing at Peter Pan Diner in Bay Shore once again.
The beloved community institution — shuttered since a devastating kitchen fire last July — is gearing up to welcome back hungry customers.
Owner Peter Lentzeres of West Islip, who stood amid the wreckage hours after the fire and promised the community he would rebuild, shared with Greater Long Island an eagerly awaited update.
“My family, myself and staff are excited and eager to pick up where we left off almost a year ago this past July,” said Lentzeres, who co-owns the diner with his brother Nick. “We want to thank the entire community for their overwhelming support and well wishes during this very challenging period.
“We are deeply grateful for your kind words and encouragement, and we hope to see all of you at the brand new Peter Pan Diner within a few months,” he added.
The timing couldn’t be more perfect — the reopening will coincide with — and serve as a celebration of — the diner’s 70th anniversary in business.
Lentzeres confirmed that crews have begun minor demolition work and cleanup inside what remains of the original structure, marking a significant step forward in the restoration process. The progress represents months of behind-the-scenes work that began in November when the family announced that an insurance settlement had been finalized and contractors were hired.
From ashes to action
The fire that changed everything broke out about 1:30 a.m. on July 1. The overnight kitchen blaze caused extensive damage to both the interior and exterior of the building.
Its exact cause remains unknown.
A Peter Pan server driving by diner, located at 999 Sunrise Highway, spotted the smoke and alerted management, who called the Lentzeres family. Bay Shore volunteer firefighters — many of whom Lentzeres knew personally as regular customers — quickly brought the flames under control, preventing total devastation.
“When I got here it was pretty much under control,” Peter Lentzeres said at the time, standing amid scattered puddles and piles of broken glass while the smell of smoke still hung in the air. “The firefighters did a wonderful job.”
Even in those first devastating hours, Lentzeres made a promise that has sustained the community’s hope: “We will rebuild.”
Family legacy continues
Peter Pan Diner has been a cornerstone of Bay Shore since 1955. Taken over by Lentzeres’s father, Gus, in 1959, the business has remained in the family ever since. For Peter, who was working at the diner every day, the decision to rebuild was never in question.
“I’m not even close to retiring,” he said shortly after the fire. “I just enjoy this business too much.”
The diner’s deep community roots were evident even during the fire response, with Lentzeres greeting arriving firefighters by name: “Hey Pete! Hey Ron! Hey Jeff, thanks for coming! Hey John, how’s your mother?”
Community support fuels recovery
Throughout the challenging rebuild period, the outpouring of community support has been a constant source of strength for the Lentzeres family. In November, the family expressed profound gratitude not only to customers but to the first responders who saved their business from complete destruction.
“I would also like to acknowledge with much heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the men and women of the Bay Shore Fire Department, Bay Shore-Brightwaters Ambulance, and Third Precinct Suffolk County Police Department,” the family wrote. “Not just for amazingly quick response and securing the area and saving the diner from total devastation but for all the years of risking your lives on a daily basis to protect us and our community.”
The family has also expressed pride in being part of the Bay Shore community for four generations, looking forward to celebrating their reopening and 70th anniversary “with all the wonderful friends, acquaintances and our terrific customers we have made through the years.”
Prior coverage
Top photos: Peter Pan Diner co-owner Peter Lentzeres and the diner’s sign (GLI file photos).
