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Telegram opines on Edgemere

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The Worcester [i]Telegram[/i] recently ran an editorial lamenting the fate of the long-suffering [b]Edgemere Diner[/b] in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. In it, they largely parroted the some of the sentiments we've expressed many times in the past. The alarmingly rare Fodero diner currently sits idle and up for sale after more than a decade in the hands of the town that seized it in lieu of back taxes. Under its stewardship, the town has seen fit only to offer two-year leases, granted to the highest bidder in a sealed auction. In that time, the diner has seen three operators come and go, and while at least two of them did a fine job of running their businesses, the constraints of the lease prevented them from investing in the much-needed improvements to the diner itself. As a result, this icon of classic Americana has withered into something of a roadside wreck. To its credit, the town claims that state law prohibited granting leases for longer time periods, but if so, then they should have auctioned off the diner from the day they took control of it. Perhaps Shewsbury would have lost a landmark, but with any luck, the diner would have landed in the hands of someone willing and able to invest the time and money towards its restoration. Currently, Shewsbury selectmen have finally voted to sell the diner, but they want the the new owner to keep the diner on the site and pay a $2,000 per month rent. We don't know for certain, but it seems pretty obvious that none of these selectmen ever ran a restaurant or tried to restore and preserve a historic landmark. Forgive the cliche, but let's hope they finally wake up and smell the coffee. .