Ocean City, MD
More than two years since a prominent businessman saved a piece of local history and vowed to restore it, an old downtown diner has failed to make a curtain call, but hope is still alive this week that the landmark will one day be returned to the resort.

It was a leap of faith when Seacrets Owner Leighton Moore purchased the Bunting’s English Diner on Coastal Highway at 21st Street and saved it from the wrecking ball in December of 2004. Originally, the diner was relocated to the Seacrets property and scheduled to be completely outfitted, refurbished and up and running along Coastal Highway near the clothing boutique along the front of the property, which would become the latest addition to a growing complex that also includes a hotel, radio station and the famous nightclub and beach bar.

Seacrets General Manager DJ Shirk said opening the diner has been delayed, but the landmark was not sold, demolished or abandoned. Shirk said Moore still intends to operate the establishment.

“The diner has not died. He still has it,” said Shirk. “I think Leighton wanted to, before pushing the diner issue, focus on the restaurant.”

Shirk could not give a timetable for the opening of the diner, proposed to be named “Lucky’s New Diner,” since it was spared demolition. He said the structure is still being refurbished at a warehouse and renovations were in order before it would hit the streets again.

“That diner was scheduled to be completely renovated,” he said.

Bunting's English Diner, which for years was known as "Little City Hall" for the unofficial resort business conducted by former mayors and elected officials over morning coffee, was saved by Moore when the 21st site was sold and slated for a 23-unit condominium project. Bunting’s English Diner had occupied the site on 21st Street along Coastal Highway since 1953. The diner has been in Ocean City since 1939 and was originally located downtown behind the Atlantic Hotel.

The original owner, Pash Bishop, rented the first location, and when the opportunity arose to purchase property for a new site, the diner was moved to its 21st Street location. It was later sold to brothers Bruce and Norm Bunting, who owned and operated it for decades before selling it to developers Gary Frick and Chuck Hoen in 2003.

When news spread that a condominium project was scheduled for the site, Moore contacted Frick, who was happy to strike a deal and enthusiastic about preserving the Ocean City landmark.

Despite the delay, the project is still in the pipeline and will one day operate as a resort diner again, according to Shirk.

“It’s definitely on the backburner,” he said.

Originally published online here: http://www.mdcoastdispatch.com/englishs060206.html