Halcombe diner shuts up shop
A Halcombe diner known for its retro hospitality has abruptly closed its doors.
Rusty Radiator, a 1950s-themed cafe in Halcombe, announced its closure via Facebook last Sunday - the same day it shut up shop.
The social media post, which was later removed, said the diner was closed as of that day “due to personal reasons”.
The following day, the outside of the building was already stripped of its recognisable signs.
Owner Tracey Langerveld opened the diner in 2021, and told the Manawatū Standard at the time it was her dream.
It was unclear why the business had closed, and Langerveld has not responded to requests for comment.
The diner was once a finalist for best cafe in Feilding’s business awards, but in 2021 and 2023 applications to place the business into liquidation were filed in the High Court.
The outcome of those hearings was unclear, as the business remained registered.
Law firm Braun, Bond and Lomas lodged the 2023 application.
Litigator Keiran Bond has been approached for comment, but had not responded in time for publication.
After Rusty Radiator’s opening, Langerveld said the diner was her brainchild, and she had been dreaming of opening a coffee shop.
She purchased the old petrol station on Halcombe Rd, and with the help of her builder husband turned the site into an American-style diner.
Every item of decor that wasn’t handmade had been salvaged from their home or gifted by friends, such as a 1945 tricycle that sat in front of the store. “I’m yet to have had to buy anything,” she said.
“We’ve tried to keep it authentic ... there’s nothing [in the diner] that isn’t what it should be or has been made to look original.”
The cafe opened to much fanfare from the community, and within just five weeks became a popular destination for those passing through the small village.