The rich are often a little eccentric. They aren’t all complete dullards like the modern tech bros of today. Some millionaires have wild and wacky obsessions that, when funded, end up being rather impressive. One rich man has recreated a full 1950s retro diner in his house at the cost of millions of dollars.
While having his home constructed, Gus Nunziata specifically asked for his basement to be built particularly deep. He wanted a ten-foot clearance for a plan he had growing in his mind. “I wanted it to feel like a real floor, not a basement,” he said.
From there, he began building his retro 19050s diner in his basement. “Once we got here, everybody would be giving me things that looked like the ’50s, like barber chairs or an old Coke machine,” Nunziata told New York Post. “My wife used to joke and ask, ‘What are you going to do with all this junk?’ And I said, ‘I have a plan.”
Now, he has a basement in his home that could have been pulled right from the 50s. “I guess I’m an old-school type of guy who probably wanted to be born in the ’50s. But I missed out on that era, so it’s been fun to recreate it.”
Check out the images for the house here!
All The Bells And Whistles Of A ’50s Retro Diner
As a result, the whole set is there in the basement of this man’s house. The red and white decor matches the checkerboard floors. There is even a Wurlitzer jukebox once owned by Jimmy Fallon. Furthermore, there is a wraparound bar and upholstered vinyl seats to match.
The whole thing has been lovingly recreated with many items donated by friends and family. There is one particular showpiece above the dining tables. A huge old Coca-Cola light fitting really brings the whole scene together. “That was actually my father-in-law’s light that hung in his restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in the 1950s,” he says.
The room isn’t just a museum, though. He uses the retro 50s diner tucked away in his basement for events and parties. Every so often, he will have a group of friends over, and they will live it up. Old food and drink will be served, and everyone will dress up.