Hope runs out: Imaginary Diner Museum seeks to unload wreck

Published Date

Written by Randy Garbin

UPDATE: As we expected, the listing is no longer available. Meanwhile, Ebay lists another one of Mr. Zilka's follies. You can buy the former West End Diner, a 1920s era Tierney from Meriden, Connecticut for a mere $3600. All we wrote below applies to this diner as well. It's much smaller and in even worse condition. And in case Mr. Zilka removes that post, we have it saved all the photos and the entire listing in PDF format should you like to learn all about its history. 

A reader pointed us to a newly posted listing on Craig's List for the former Rich's Diner Annex, now located in Rhode Island. We can thank (presumably) Daniel Zilka for providing such a thorough description of a once-beautiful diner that he has kept in storage for about a decade, most of the time exposed to elements. You can now find the diner parked outside of a Cranston, Rhode Island correctional facility, where Mr. Zilka hoped to use its young inmates and other prison resources to restore this and three other decaying diners, all under the umbrella of something new he called the "New Hope Diner Project." Looks like hope ran out. 

If you want to read all about this, click the link below. But hurry. The last time Mr. Zilka sought to unload another IDM asset in this manner, he quickly removed the listing when we took notice. 

In case you do happen to be interested in this diner, I can tell you with some authority that its true worth is well under the asking price of $32,000. In fact, I think Mr. Zilka should pay you to relieve him of the burden. 

1932 antique Worcester Lunch Car Diner 14 x 65 Newburyport landmark - $32000 (cranston, rhode island)

Date: 2011-04-28, 11:52AM EDT

Diner 708 built by the Worcester Lunch Car Company of Worcester, Massachusetts in 1932. This diner is currently on wood blocks in Cranston, Rhode Island. The size of the diner is approximately 14 feet wide and 65 feet long. It shrink wrapped. The original interior includes counter, back bar w/ refrigerator & grill hood, stained glass leaded windows, beveled glass movable windows, tile floors and tile walls. The gumwood veneer ceiling needs to be replaced and there are no original oak tables or chairs. The counter has seating for 12 stools and the large dining room could accommodate 65 customers at tables with four chairs each.

Read the listing here...