Pawtucket’s Modern Diner, a Landmark Eatery, Is for Sale

Somewhere between memorable radio gigs, a short stint as Senator Bernie Sanders's press guy for his first congressional campaign in 1988, and my nearly 10 years as a talk host at my current dial position, there was Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

I landed in Providence when radio jobs in Burlington, Vermont, began to dry up due to deregulation, satellite, syndication, and other things that changed the radio world forever.

Providence was the place to be. Radio was still mostly live and local. It's where I met my wife, and we started our family.

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Why the Modern Diner Matters to Pawtucket

I found an apartment overlooking Interstate 95 in Pawtucket, a short walk from the Modern Diner at 364 East Avenue. It was amazing. It was the Shawmut Diner of Pawtucket, but older. Everyone met at the Modern Diner for breakfast, coffee or lunch.

A Look Back at the Diner’s History

ArtInRuins.com reports parts for the Modern Diner were constructed at the J.B. Judkins Company of Merrimack, Massachusetts, in 1941 and assembled at its original location, 13 Dexter Street, Pawtucket.

The diner may have changed hands a couple of times before being moved to its current location in 1986. Now, the Sterling Streamliner diner is for sale.

The Modern Diner is a nationally recognized historic landmark, according to a press release issued by its current owner, Nick Demou.

"This is a bittersweet decision," Demou said. "The Modern Diner has been part of our family for generations, and we've loved every moment of serving our neighbors, watching families grow, and being a source of comfort and nostalgia."

What’s Next for This Rhode Island Landmark?

The possible relocation of Hasbro, the loss of the PawSox, and the demolition of McCoy Stadium have shaken Pawtucket. News of changes at the Modern Diner could be another blow for the people of Pawtucket.