Hector’s, the Small Diner Under the High Line, Closing Doors after 76 Years

After 76 years, Hector’s Cafe and Diner is closing its doors.

The tiny establishment is where Martin Scorsese shot all the diner scenes for Taxi Driver, the gritty 1976 film starring Robert De Niro and Jodi Foster that depicted the rough underbelly of city nightlife of the era. That was then, this is now.

The one-story red brick diner sits below the High Line on the corner of Washington and Little West 12th streets, and is a throwback to a tougher time. But even as the neighborhood changed, Hector’s has continued to serve up affordable diner classics (and good Mexican food, according to reviews) as it has done since the 1940s.

In a short interview with Straus News, the owner, Nick Kapelonis, described Hector’s past, present, and future. “It’s me and two partners. Family business for the past 45 years,” he said. “It’s where you get the cup of coffee on the corner.”

Hector’s opened in 1949, a time when the Meatpacking District was still populated by butchers and slaughterhouses. Trains from the New York Central Railroad—whose abandoned trestle years was repurposed into the High Line park—still rumbled overhead. The past 76 years have brought tremendous change. Today, old industrial buildings are filled with designer brands, chic eats, and fashionable nightlife. The Whitney Museum of Art continues to expand. Tesla opened a showroom a block away. Hector’s is like a rustic red caboose among a terminal of magnetic bullet trains.

In fact, the departure of the meatpackers directly affected Hector’s decision to close. “The butchers aren’t getting pushed out. They have an agreement with the city, and we’re a part of that agreement. They’re leaving and we’re going with them,” Kapelonis said. The butchers have been some of Hector’s most consistent and reliable customers over the years.

A sign posted on the front door reads, “We’re sad to announce that Hector’s Cafe Diner will be closing permanently after 76 years on July 18, 2025. Thank you for your support over the years. It’s been a joy to serve you, and we’re proud of the memories we’ve created together. We’ll miss you and are truly grateful for each and every one of you.”

The lingering effects of COVID were also a reason for Hector’s closing, an unfortunate but common story for many restaurants. “To tell you the truth, the business never fully recovered after COVID,” Kapelonis said. For a small family-run establishment in the increasingly pricey Meatpacking District, COVID made keeping prices affordable—a hallmark of a good local diner—even more difficult.

Hector’s lease lasts until 2033, but like the few remaining butchers in the Meatpacking District, they have decided to close now. The property is expected to become part of a new vision called Gansevoort Square.

The city announced back in October 2024 plans for Gansevoort Square, a 66,000-square-foot development that will contain mixed-income housing units, new open space, and the expansion of the Whitney Museum and the High Line. The NYC Economic Development Corp. said the full project is expected to generate $940 million in economic impact.

People interested in Hector’s next move will have to wait a bit longer. “We’re going to take a big break and then see.” Regarding the possibility of returning to Chelsea or the Meatpacking District, Kapelonis added that operating a small business there is just too costly.

Neighborhood residents expressed their disappointment online. Erin O. on Yelp wrote, “Hector’s is a place of memories for me.” Pat F. wrote, “Seventy-six years of serving the neighborhood will be no longer. I wish the employees good luck on their future endeavors.”

But Kapelonis and his longtime customers agree that the absence of Hector’s leaves a gaping hole in the neighborhood. “The neighborhood needs good local coffee shops,” he said. “People will have to walk five blocks for a good cup of coffee.”