Moran Sq Diner Fitchburg Massachusetts
1939 Wochester Lunch Car #765
was restored after 8 consecutive decades of operation
Local to Fitchburg, the couple frequented the diner for years before it shuttered. When it closed, the restaurant veterans, who share more than 25 years in the service industry, saw a once-in-a-lifetime chance to put their own stamp not only on a historic restaurant, but one they also had a personal connection to.
The two announced their purchase of the property via their Kickstarter in July 2020. Willoughby said their ultimate goal from the outset was to maintain the restaurant’s historic atmosphere and put their own, fine dining spin on the menu.
“It’s all a part of the experience, people eat with their eyes first,” he said. “Part of coming here, part of the reason people love diners, is that feeling that you’re in another time.”
“With the food, there are endless possibilities, whether it’s the staples of Americana, whether we want to experiment or explore different takes on things,” he said. “We want everyone to feel like Grandma just cooked them breakfast, but elevate it.”
While the only change of significance to the interior was the kitchen, which was modernized and moved to the back of the restaurant in order to preserve the front end’s ambiance, the couple spent over a year cleaning and renovating the space.
“We wanted to give everything a fresh start and spent months cleaning the tile floor, scrubbing the woodwork,” Willoughby said. “We tore up and repaved the parking lot, built planters and laid down a deck for an outdoor dining section.”
The two announced their purchase of the property via their Kickstarter in July 2020. Willoughby said their ultimate goal from the outset was to maintain the restaurant’s historic atmosphere and put their own, fine dining spin on the menu.
“It’s all a part of the experience, people eat with their eyes first,” he said. “Part of coming here, part of the reason people love diners, is that feeling that you’re in another time.”
“With the food, there are endless possibilities, whether it’s the staples of Americana, whether we want to experiment or explore different takes on things,” he said. “We want everyone to feel like Grandma just cooked them breakfast, but elevate it.”
While the only change of significance to the interior was the kitchen, which was modernized and moved to the back of the restaurant in order to preserve the front end’s ambiance, the couple spent over a year cleaning and renovating the space.
“We wanted to give everything a fresh start and spent months cleaning the tile floor, scrubbing the woodwork,” Willoughby said. “We tore up and repaved the parking lot, built planters and laid down a deck for an outdoor dining section.”
I hadn't realized that diners are not derivative of the word "dinner" but are from the dining car on the railroads of that early era 100 years ago
a wave of Greek immigrants in the early 50s, resulted in 90% of the diners being owned by Greeks.
A 1996 New York Times article states that about two-thirds of New York City's diners are Greek-owned.
New Jersey has more diners than any other state, most of which are Greek https://www.tastingtable.com/1069533/the-reason-so-many-diners-have-greek-roots/
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