In the News - Betty's Diner

According to Montanette Murphy of the Utica Observer-Dispatch, Betty's Diner in Marcy, New York has closed. Dave and Tammy Riker, owners of the diner have decided to move on.

Betty's is a 1951 Silk City Diner which we last visited back in 2005, the year the Riker's purchased the diner.

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In the News - Forest Diner

The Forest Diner was the subject of today's article by Jennifer Choi and Derek Simmonsen. In that Howard County Times article, they wrote about the changes facing a business that's been in Ellicott City, Maryland for over half a century.

Although the financial transaction took place back in August 2008, some of the details were made public in today's article. Owner of the Forest Diner, Will Reich sold the property to developers. Conditions in the agreement should keep the diner open for the next four and one-half years.


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Forest Diner
10031 Baltimore National Pike
Ellicott City, MD
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We invite you to visit our flickr diner photostream.

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Diner For Sale

Many people inquire about purchasing a diner. While it can be a daunting proposition, it's a chance to be your own boss. Add to the fact it's a great opportunity to preserve a piece of history.

We have posted some new diners for sale. If you are interested in purchasing a diner, take a look at buyadiner.com. Is there a classic manufactured diner currently for sale that would benefit from the exposure to a targeted market? Let us know about it. There is no guarantee how long these will last, as some of these diners may be on the brink of avoiding demolition. Contact the sellers directly for further information.


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Former Big Dig Diner - Boston, MA

former Big Dig Diner

An article about this diner's future appeared online today. Though here's a little background on this Silk City Diner, built in 1946 by the Paterson Vehicle Company of Paterson, NJ. According to Mario Monti's book, A Directory of Diners - 3rd Edition, this diner has been known as the Windmill Diner in Ono, PA, Fern's Diner in Norristown, NJ, and the Exton Diner in Exton, PA.

In 1995 it left Diversified Diners after being restored and was installed at 4 Drydock Avenue, in Boston, MA. Once there it served as the culinary training center for the Log School Settlement House. The organization modeled their Big Dig Diner Project after the Chesapeake Center for Youth Development's culinary training at the Hollywood Diner in Baltimore, MD. It operated for a few years, though due to financial issues, the Big Dig Diner closed in 2003.

Former Big Dig Diner
courtesy of photosonflickr, (c) 2006

The photograph in the upper right shows the diner's exterior in June 2005. Since the diner sat upon city land, they were anxious to get rid of it. On Wednesday, October 11, 2006, the diner was put up for auction, yet failed to find a buyer. The picture to the left taken a few weeks after the auction, shows various interior items were sold. Here's an article about the diner written in October 2006.

Several months later, when updating our records, we were surprised to find a blank spot in the Google map where the diner once stood. Checking Google's StreetView confirmed this.

In 2007 the diner was moved back to Diversified Diners and began the restoration process one more time. On Monday it's expected the former Big Dig Diner will arrive in Grafton, OH. It will then be known as Nancy's Mainstreet Diner. Grafton is located about 15 miles from Lake Erie.

Though O'Mahony and Worcester manufactured diners are commonly found throughout Massachusetts, we wondered if there are any other Silk City diners remaining. Tim's, in Leominster is one we visited in July 2005.

When we have more information about Nancy's, we'll post it here.

For more pictures of diners, we invite you to visit our flickr photostream here.


Diversified Diners
Cleveland, OH

Nancy's Mainstreet Diner
426 North Main Street
Grafton, OH
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Tim's Diner
15 Water St.
Leominster, MA
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Fezz's Community Diner

This diner's individual page is coming soon. If you are the diner's owner, we welcome you to contact us about sponsoring this page.


Status: Open

Builder: Paterson Vehicle Co.
Year: late 1930's
Model: Silk City Diner
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Opened:
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Website:
Location: East Providence, RI
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Blog entries we've written about the diner.


We invite you to visit our flickr diner photostream.

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