Providence, Rhode Island Diner set to make comeback

I received this email announcement about Poirier’s Diner from Richard Gutman yesterday. Poirier’s Diner, which has been in storage for a number of years is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Poirier’s Diner, operating as the Sandwich Factory in the early 1980’s
Photo by Larry Cultrera

Subject: Immediate Release – Historic Diner Being Moved on Tuesday, December 13th – Immediate Release

The historic Poirier’s Diner (a 1947 Kullman, the second Diner in Rhode Island to be individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places) is on the move!
For more than 50 years, and under many different names, such as “Armand’s, Krystal’s, the Top Hat, Arnold’s and most recently, the El Faro, the Diner served the working men and women of Olneyville at its location on Atwells Avenue at Eagle Square. Saved from the wrecking ball when Eagle Square was mostly demolished, on this coming Tuesday the 13th, the Diner will be placed on a truck and rolled down the block to its new home at 1380 Westminster Street on Providence’s historic West Side.

Developer Jon Özbek has begun a full scale renovation of the diner with the help of BankRI, General Contractor Stack Design / Build of Providence, the RI Historic Preservation & Heritage Commission, the Providence Revolving Fund, and MODA, LLC. This project represents a significant investment in the City’s burgeoning West Side business community, while it will also create new jobs.

This restaurant will be the fourth collaboration between Jon Özbek and Michael Sears, who together have brought Loie Fuller’s, The Avery, and Ama’s to the West Side of Providence.  The Diner will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, 7 days a week. And it will feature  an updated version of classic American Diner fare, along with a full bar and outdoor patio seating.  It is expected to open in the Spring / Summer of 2012.
 
Stay tuned for details.

Jon Özbek, Manager
Kismetro, LLC
Crescent Partners LLC
1455 Westminster Street, LLC
18-20 Luongo Memorial Square LLC
Cerberus, LLC
401.369.1820