PROVIDENCE – The historic Elmwood Diner near Roger Williams Park is being sold, its owners having closed the business earlier this month.
The 49-seat dining car and surrounding property is listed at $295,000 with Corbett Restaurant Group, of Boston.
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In a brief post on the diner’s website, the diner owners of the past three years explained that they closed April 2. “We love our customers, our staff and our food. But we need our weekends back! … It was our pleasure to serve you.”
The diner, historically known as the Central Diner, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Since it arrived in Rhode Island, it has been operated by a series of owners, under varying names, including Jenn’s Elmwood Diner, Liberty Elm Diner and Ole Elmwood Diner.
Located at 777 Elmwood Ave., the diner was manufactured by the Worcester Lunch Car Company as No. 806.
According to the real estate listing, the diner has been completely refurbished. Originally delivered to a site in Downtown Providence in 1947, the diner was later relocated to Elmwood Avenue in 1953, according to the National Register application, and operated as the Central Diner until 1972.
In its National Register application, the diner is described as an excellent example of the classic, barrel-roofed diner that was widely produced by the Worcester Lunch Car Company in the 20th century.
“Inside, the diner has remained largely intact since the day it rolled out of the Worcester Lunch Car Company factory,” the application stated, including an original pink Tennessee marble counter, interior wainscot and counter apron of yellow and black ceramic tiles and chrome pedestal stools.
Mary MacDonald is a PBN staff writer.
