For decades, blind residents relied on this NYC diner, and now it’s gone

The Malibu Diner in Chelsea closed on February 22, 2026, ending a decades-long relationship with blind residents who lived just steps away. For many at Selis Manor, a 200-unit apartment complex for people with visual impairments, the diner was a daily fixture.

The closure was detailed by The New York Times, which reported that the diner had a formal voucher partnership with residents through VISIONS, a nonprofit supporting the older adult center at Selis Manor. The program, funded since 2013 with support from the city’s Department for the Aging, allowed participants to purchase breakfast for $1.

For residents like Mary West, 73, who had been visiting for more than 40 years, the diner was part of a routine shared with her guide dog. Nestor Lopéz, 62, said the voucher program saved him about $100 a month, an important amount on a fixed income.

A unique breakfast program tied to one neighborhood

Through the voucher system, residents could choose from specific breakfast options such as eggs with home fries and coffee or pancakes with tea. Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, commissioner of the Department for the Aging, told The Times her agency was not aware of another older adult center with a similar restaurant partnership.

The program shifted to to-go meals during the pandemic but remained a key resource. With typical New York City diner breakfasts often exceeding $20, the $1 meal represented both affordability and accessibility. This comes amid Epstein interview hang-up.

Owner Alexandros Grimpas, who took over the diner nearly 20 years ago, subsidized about $4 per voucher meal out of pocket, according to the report. Residents described him as a consistent presence who donated birthday cakes and maintained a welcoming atmosphere.

Staff members were also familiar figures. The Times reported that longtime hostess Ashley Simon joked with regulars, while waitress Paola Bautista would carefully describe where items were placed on the table.

Some residents noted limitations in the voucher menu, which offered four health-guideline-approved breakfast options. Still, many continued to visit daily, valuing the reliability and social connection.

The diner’s closure followed a rent increase and a failure to reach a new lease agreement with the building’s owner. Grimpas plans to open a more upscale restaurant nearby, while VISIONS has not yet confirmed whether it will secure a similar partnership for residents going forward. Similar reporting has seen Noem cannibal story fact-check.