New Hartford, NY
In addition to the Cinnamon French Toast, the current and former owners of The Hartford Queen Diner are serving a heaping portion of change with a side dish of legal conflict.

Here are issues facing the 4784 Commercial Drive diner, whose fate is uncertain after three decades as a local landmark of sorts:

•The son of the diner's chief owner is opening another diner just down the road in Whitestown. Its name might sound familiar: The Queen Diner.

•A former co-owner who was once related by marriage to The Hartford Queen's management has sued his former partners over their past actions, alleging mismanagement and withheld compensation.

•The lease on The Hartford Queen expires March 31, 2008, and there are questions over whether the property's owners will renew it.

Interviews with the principals involved reflect the passionate feelings involving The Hartford Queen Diner, which has bustled from the day it opened in 1978 as diners clamored for familiar homemade food away from home.

"There was nothing like it in the area," said the former co-owner, Jeffrey Lamandia. "And there still isn't, really."

Family ties

The Hartford Queen dates back to 1978, a time when Jimmy Carter was president, the Soviet Union was still the enemy and disco was king.

New Hartford was only beginning its retail boom. Sangertown Square mall would not open for two more years, and Consumer Square and The Orchard were both about a quarter-century in the future.

In 1993, Lamandia, Palma "Pam" Wehby and her son Michael Wehby formed a company called Jamsco Inc. and purchased the diner. At that time, Lamandia was Pam Wehby's son-in-law and Michael Wehby's brother-in-law.

Ten years later, however, the Wehbys moved to sever their business relationship with Lamandia. In 2005, Lamandia sued, claiming the Wehbys withheld compensation he was due and caused the company to waste valuable assets.

The lawsuit requests that Jamsco be dissolved and that Lamandia be compensated for his ownership in the company. Neither the Wehbys nor Lamandia would comment specifically on the lawsuit.

"Both of the attorneys on behalf of their respective parties are working to bring this matter to an amicable closure," said John Petrone II, an attorney who is representing the Wehbys.

Lamandia's attorney, William Borrill, said the two parties are still gathering information before the case moves forward to either a settlement or a civil trial.

"We're in hopes that it can be settled," Borrill said.

Lamandia said he has not been involved in the operations of The Hartford Queen since he was voted out of Jamsco by the Wehbys. Pam Wehby now owns 75 percent, while Lamandia owns the remaining 25 percent.

Pam Wehby has retired and has lived in Florida for nine years. Michael Wehby and his wife Frances Baer-Wehby manage the restaurant.

Although Michael Wehby is named as a defendant in Lamandia's lawsuit, he has not had a true ownership stake in The Hartford Queen in many years.

A new queen

Now, Michael Wehby has applied for a business certificate to begin operating another restaurant, The Queen Diner, at 4948 Commercial Drive in Whitestown.

He is the managing member of Edgeco Enterprises LLC, which bought a 6,000-square-foot retail site that includes the new restaurant location and two adjacent business slots in February.

The Queen Diner will operate as a totally separate entity from The Hartford Queen, Michael Wehby said.

"I just wanted to go out on my own," Michael Wehby said. There is also less traffic congestion at the new site, across the street from Symeon's, he said.

There is also the issue of uncertainty in the older restaurant's ability to continue operating at its current location, Michael Wehby said.

While The Hartford Queen's 4,000-square-foot building is owned by Jamsco, the property it sits on is owned by Daniel and Robert Tobiasz and Judith Woodington, according to the Oneida County Clerk's office. The owners are looking to sell the land — assessed at $398,000 -- and are not renewing the lease in 2008, Lamandia said.

The Wehbys have been in negotiations with Tobiasz over the lease for about four years but nothing has been finalized yet, Pam Wehby said.

Daniel Tobiasz said he and the other owners of the property had no comment.

"So, rather than wait, I decided to go out on my own," Michael Wehby said. "Nobody is going to kick me off of my own land."

'Good food, good prices'

The Wehbys said they are confident that The Hartford Queen's loyal longtime customers would be receptive to the new restaurant if the older restaurant were to close.

Utica resident Vinnie Ficchi comes to The Hartford Queen at least once a week, since it is in close proximity to his business office.

"I like going there because I know what to expect. They are consistent with both their good food and fast service," said Ficchi, who said he would have no problem eating at the new restaurant.

Utica resident Rose Saunders has had many breakfasts at The Hartford Queen in the past 15 years.

"Good service, good food, good prices," Saunders said. "Let's just say if I'd go out to eat, that's where I'd go."

Whether The Hartford Queen remains open or not, and however the lawsuit is settled, the parties involved say they are trying to avoid rancor.

Lamandia said he is concentrating on his current venture, Raspberries Café and Creamery on Genesee Street in South Utica. He opened the restaurant last fall with partner Dominick Crocilla.

"And just move into the next stage of my life," Lamandia said of his plans.

"I don't have any hard feelings one way or another," Pam Wehby said. "I wish him all the luck in the world in his venture. I would never down another person's business because we are in business ourselves."

Originally published online here: http://www.uticaod.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070606/NEWS/706060329/1001