What's up with that? Cheyenne Diner to start its trek from NYC to Birmingham

After months of red tape in New York City, crews will start to move the classic Manhattan eatery Cheyenne Diner to Birmingham next week.

The diner will make the roughly 987-mile trip in two pieces, with the first half set to start its trek by flatbed truck Tuesday night, said Patti Miller, the diner's media relations director.

The move will start at night because the city wants the street closed when the first part of the 96-foot diner is lifted off its longtime perch on Ninth Avenue between 34th and 35th streets in the Chelsea neighborhood, Miller said.

She didn't know how long it will take to get here -- "they've got to get permits for each state they go through" -- or when the second piece will follow.

Birmingham businessman Joel Owens bought the diner and plans to restore it to its 1940s vintage glory. That work will be done here, but a permanent site hasn't been chosen. The eastern metro area is preferred, Miller has said.

There will be two booths with info on the Cheyenne at Pinson's Butterbean Festival on Saturday, Miller said.