CLOSING out yet another year, Forgotten New York’s 25th, today I will mention Sazon Nuñez Corp. at Wyckoff and DeKalb Avenues, conveniently located at the DeKalb Avenue L train station. Notice that lengthy frontage along Wyckoff Avenue? That is a hint of something that may still be under its facade.
In 1940 this was the Bonton Diner, one of hundreds of railcar-style diners in New York City that year. My suspicion is that the Bon Ton was rotated to front on Wyckoff and then rebuilt with the brick facade I’m seeing now. I don’t have any intermediate photos to prove anything, but it’s my suspicion. If any area oldtimers can confirm, Comments are open. The 1980s photo on 1940sNYC does not confirm my theory, but the location may be off.
As pointed out in Comments, a look at the NYC Department of Records and Information Services website reveals that the Bon Ton survived in this railcar-style diner until at least the 1980s. This may be the same building that the Sazon is in now, but that’s questionable. I believe this could be the 1940s railcar building.
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12/31/24
5 comments
Aerial view from Google Earth shows what could be the clerestory roof of the old diner still in existence behind the awning sign. You may well be right.
If you check the DeKalb frontage on GSV it looks as if there is a brick extension on a narrower metal building, so that would support the enlarged-diner theory.
The ca. 1980s confirmation you seek: Bon Ton Diner, 1980s
Diner door is propped open to let all the flies in.I dont think I’ll be
eating there.
Here is another old photo of the diner.
https://1940s.nyc/map/photo/nynyma_rec0040_3_03237_0035#17.91/40.704225/-73.918827