Estelle’s Diner is out, Anthony Sosa back at the 39th Street Diner

Last August, restaurateur Anton Kotar, of Anton’s Taproom, announced that he was opening a venture at 3906 Waddell, best known as the former home of 24-hour diner Nichols Lunch. Kotar said he was turning the restaurant into Estelle’s Diner, named for his 3-year-old daughter.

Seven months later, Kotar is out. Instead, the long-MIA Sosa’s 39th Street Diner is about to reopen.

“Laura Weiss [who holds the lease at that address] decided that she’d let Anthony Sosa come back and run it again,” Kotar tells me. “I’ve already poured $40,000 into the restaurant. I don’t know if I’ll get it back.”

Yesterday, Anthony Sosa posted this on the Sosa’s 39th Street Diner Facebook page:

“Sosa style returns tomorrow 3/10/15 with our soft opening at 6 a.m. Stop by and check out fresh new look in same historic location. Official grand reopening party is next Tuesday March 17th St. Patrick’s Day as we are just 2 blocks from parade route. Stay tuned for our great cheap St. Paddy’s Day drink and food specials. We are looking forward to seeing all our regulars again as well as new faces. Stop by and Experience The Tradition-Sosa Style.”

The location is indeed historic. After an 85-year run, Nichols Lunch closed in 2006. Two tenants have since tried to revive that location: Mama’s 39th Street Diner and Sosa’s 39th Street Diner.

Sosa’s closed last year, after two years of serving eggs, pancakes, burgers, a few Mexican dishes and, in a twist for that space, booze. Sosa obtained a liquor license for the restaurant, which he operated for Laura Weiss, whose name is on the lease. (The building is owned by Del Hedgepath.)

Kotar says he signed a contract with Weiss to reopen and operate the restaurant for a year.

“Laura says I was taking too long to get the space open, not quite understanding that the restaurant still owes a debt to the Internal Revenue Service from the last time Sosa ran the restaurant.”

Kotar says he expects to be repaid for his investment in the property.

“Their lawyer says they don’t have the money right now to pay me back,” he tells me.

I spoke with Sosa and Weiss today at the reopened Sosa’s. Neither would comment on Kotar’s contract or Kotar’s assertion that Sosa’s owes back taxes.