Iconic NYC Diner Relocates To Steiner Studios As New Movie Set Piece

BROOKLYN, NY — It’s not every day you see a diner take to the skies, but this Brooklyn landmark just did—landing at Steiner Studios to start its second act on the silver screen.

The longtime Wythe Diner left Williamsburg on Saturday, lifted from the corner it had called home for decades. Its destination was Steiner Studios at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where the vintage stainless-steel railcar will live on as a permanent set for film and television productions.

With a new residential project planned for its original site, the diner—long a fixture on Wythe Avenue and a familiar face in films—was at risk of being scrapped. Steiner Studios owner Doug Steiner stepped in to preserve the landmark and arranged for its relocation, giving the beloved eatery a second life on camera.

The diner has already appeared in over 150 movies, television shoots, and commercials. Productions filmed at Steiner Studios include "Boardwalk Empire," "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "The Greatest Showman," and more recently, "Black Rabbit," "The Diplomat," "Zero Day," and "Sirens."

Over the years, the Wythe Diner has welcomed a host of famous visitors, from Matt Damon and Will Smith to Jerry Seinfeld, Ted Danson, Steve Carell, and Tina Fey, cementing its status as both a Brooklyn institution and a small-screen star.

The Wythe Diner first opened at 225 Wythe Avenue in 1968, keeping its original name until the late 1980s. In 1997, it was revived as Relish, which remained in operation until 2010. A year later, the diner was reborn as Café de la Esquina, serving Mexican cuisine until that chapter closed in 2018.

In a statement to CBS, Sandy Stillman, who has owned the diner since 1997, said the relocation was a way to honor its legacy while giving the beloved eatery a new chapter in show business.

The diner, which arrived at Steiner Studios on Saturday night, will be lifted one final time later today before coming to rest on its permanent foundation at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, officials said.