Restaurateur Michael Petrogiannis, returning my call from his mother's village in Greece, denied talk that the Melrose Diner is listed for sale or is on the market.
"I just bought it! Now if someone comes in and offers me $20 million, I cannot say no," he said. "I'd even take him for a week in Vegas."
Petrogiannis said he did not know Hanh Vo, the Realtor who is blind-advertising a restaurant that, from its description, seems a lot like the Melrose. "This must be a misunderstanding," Petrogiannis said.
As of Tuesday, the restaurant ad on Dr. Hanh's website included a photo of the Melrose's dining room. Today, though, the photo is gone, replaced by a shot of what looks like a leafy bush (perhaps a garnish) with a "For Sale" sign in front of it.
Dr. Hanh, who also is trying to sell the shuttered Broad Street Diner at Broad and Ellsworth Streets, said he could not discuss his client.
Petrogiannis said that he has a renovation at the Melrose planned for September and that he was happy with the Melrose's performance. He also owns the Country Club, the Tiffany, the Mayfair and the Warminster West Diners and a bunch of Michael's Restaurants.