Garfield Diner to reopen

Category: Latest News

Published on Wednesday, 16 January 2013 09:33

Written by Randy Garbin

The Garfield Diner, a couple of grand openings ago, in 1998.

Pottsville sits nestled deep in the heart of eastern Pennsylvania's coal country, and even a quick drive through reveals its past prosperity expressed through its architectural grandeur. Most people might know it as the home of Yeungling, America's oldest brewery, which attracts beer fanatics in droves who come to tour its historic facilities. Diner fanatics also know Pottsville as the home of the Garfield Diner, a well-preserved, late 1950s Kullman located in the city's Garfield Square, famous as the backdrop of a John F. Kennedy campaign speech in 1960. 

Today, the Pottsville Republican-Herald reports that the Garfield will again reopen after a long dormant period. Since at least 1990, the Garfield has seen a steady parade of operators give it a go. We tried to visit it for the first time 1998 but couldn't get five feet beyond the vestibule thanks to the impenetrable, stifling cloud of smoke that permeated the place. We learned the Garfield had closed not long after, which didn't surprise us at all. 

With Pennsylvania's smoke-free ordinance in place, we look forward to finally taking a seat there. We hope to see you there where we can all welcome Ashraf Abouomar to the business and wish him a long run.

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