Buddy's Diner Comeback Push
Somerville's beloved Buddy's Diner has been closed since 2023 due to plumbing issues, but now the city is rallying to help reopen this iconic lunch car. The community's attachment to this neighborhood institution reflects the deeper value of local dining landmarks.
The forced closure of Buddy's Diner in 2023 was the result of collapsed underground sewer pipes, which led to flooding in the building's basement. This infrastructure failure is linked to the construction of the East Somerville Green Line Extension station. Owner Nicole Bairos, who purchased the diner when she was 23 and has run it for two decades, faced costly legal battles and issues with insurance claims following the damage. The diner's precarious situation led Preservation Massachusetts to name Buddy's one of the most endangered historic places in the state. The city of Somerville has approved a grant of $74,365 from the Community Preservation Act funds to help with the extensive repairs. These funds are designated for stabilizing the historic 1929 Worcester Lunch Car, repairing the crushed sewer pipes, and hiring a historic preservation architect to assess the restoration needs. While the city's grant is a significant step, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched by Bairos to close a remaining funding gap of $100,000. This additional money is needed to repair interior damage, and fix or replace damaged kitchen equipment. This isn't the first time Buddy's has faced a serious challenge; in 2012, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue seized the diner for non-payment of taxes. However, with the department's help, owner Nicole Bairos was able to resolve the issues and reopen within a couple of days. The classic lunch car was originally built in 1929 and operated in Leominster as Sawin's Diner before being moved to its current Somerville location in the early 1950s. It is recognized as a local landmark by the Somerville Historic Commission.
