The Silver Top Diner as seen in better days, 1996 photo by Larry Cultrera
The Silver Top Diner was a long-time fixture in Providence, RI until it was forced to move for the redevelopment of the property it was operating on. I was there for the last day of operation and met the owner Pat Brown. Even then, she was up against some long-odds to get the diner set-up and operating, hopefully in Pawtucket, RI. Unfortunately, the diner has languished for all these intervening years and was subsequently given an ultimatum by the city recently. Basically the diner needed to be removed from its long-time storage site or it would be demolished.
Patricia Tomasso-Brown, the owner of The Silver Top Diner, contacted me via Facebook to inform me of her current dilemma. She wrote….. Larry could you post this on your events for me, Thanks, Pat
Fund-raiser for The Silver Top Diner, anyone knowing any place that will give gift certificates please let me know. Thank You to all who already bought a ticket! After waiting 10 years to get my business open and my diner rebuilt, on October 9, 2012 I won in court against the City of Pawtucket after a 5 day jury trial, then on October 26, 2012 a judge overturned the jury verdict and took my award & diner away.
Now I have to fight all over again. There is a Fund-raiser being held to help me with court fee’s which are high. Please spread the word to help out. Silver Top Diner Fund-raiser at Bishop Hill Tavern, 2868 Hartford Ave, Johnston, RI, Tuesday, November 27, 2012, starting at 6:00 pm until ? – Italian style dinner and raffles, donation is $20 per ticket. I can drop them to anyone who wants them if you don’t live too far away, just let me know when I can meet you. 401-497-6169 or write savethesilvertopdiner@yahoo.com
Thank you, Pat Brown
Diner Hotline Weblog 
Pat Brown here, just want everyone to know I earned almost enough for the transcripts, borrowed some money because online funds still haven’t all reached my account but the transcripts are ordered & we are on our way to retry this case. Thank You all who helped and believed in me, the diner and for justice to prevail for a 2nd time!
Larry,Thanks so much for your help!
Any update on the Silver Top? Is there a web address for donations? I would like to post it on my website of Rhode Island Diners on their way back..
Hi Len,
I had earned almost enough money with the fund raiser to pay for the transcripts needed to retry my case so I had closed the fund raising site.
I may have to do it again because my attorney, Arthur Chatfield says I need to hire a Forensic Accountant to calculate my losses for all the years I’ve been closed, that costs $3,000-$4,000 but I am hoping to raise that myself.
We don’t have a new court date yet but I do believe we will win a second time when we go back to court.
Pat
If you do let me know and I will post the link. Good Luck!
Len
Thank You Len, I will let you know & let you know when we find out more on a court date.
have you thought of using a crowd funding site to get the diner back up and running?
Hi Kyle, I had done a fund raiser to help in my legal fight over the diner, I had to raise $1,700 which I did, I do have to do another because when i go to court again i need to hire a forensic accountant & have a handwriting analysis done to prove my handwriting is not a 1 loan document. If you would like to reach me in the future, you can email me at patb1231@yahoo.com, I don’t go on this email too often & this had been in a spam folder. Thank You, Pat Brown
I have started an online fundraiser to help aid me with up coming court costs, Unfortunately I had fallen on ice & snow & had to have surgery on my neck, I shattered all the bones in it so I am not working right now. I have a go fund me going & also a story NBC done on the diner
http://www.turnto10.com/story/28633454/silver-top-diner-saga-drags-on-in-court?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=11287136
gofund.me/p0vtz0
anyone wanting to reach me can at savethesilvertopdiner@yahoo.com Thank You all!