A front wall of Lindy’s Diner in downtown Albuquerque suddenly collapsed Monday one week after the city forced the Route 66 restaurant to close due to structural issues.
No one was hurt in the collapse.
KOB-TV acquired footage of the building when it collapsed about noon.
KRQE-TV also acquired video from a passerby of the century-old Bliss Building, which houses the restaurant, shortly after the collapse.
More from the Albuquerque Journal:
A structural engineer will evaluate whether the building can be rebuilt or if it needs to come down entirely, Fejer added.
Diner and building owner Steve Vatoseow said it was heartbreaking to see the building where he grew his business and family in shambles.
“I knew the building had issues, but in no way did I expect this,” Vatoseow said. “But as heartbreaking and gut wrenching as this is, I thank God nobody was hurt.” […]
Last week, Vatoseow said he had been trying to address the building problems for years but was unable to afford the fixes. The city gave the owners a deadline of May 4 to submit a structural engineer’s report, acquire a building permit and take corrective action.
Vatoseow also recently put the building on the market for $1.27 million.
Lindy’s originally opened as the Coney Island Cafe in 1929. It became Lindy’s Diner in 1960.
(Screen-capture image from video shortly after a wall collapsed at Lindy’s Diner in Albuquerque)