The Next Chapter
The City???s Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency (PRA) is auctioning off the historic Silver Top Diner on October 5, 2016 at 10 a.m.. at its site on Middle Street in Pawtucket. After 14 years, the saga of this historic diner ends with its purchase at this auction. Hopefully, a new chapter will begin for this well-known Rhode Island landmark.
Here is a background on Pawtucket???s effort to bring the diner to the City:
In late 2001, the PRA (City of Pawtucket) learned the Silver Top Diner was being evicted from its location on Harris and Kinsley Avenue, (behind what is now the Providence Place mall) operating in that spot since the late 1930s (65 years) in Providence. The Silver Top Diner, falling victim to redevelopment at this location, served last meal at that location on March 3, 2002.
At this time Herb Weiss, the City’s Economic & Cultural Affairs Officer, contacted Pat Brown, manager at the Silver Top Diner Manager, to discuss the possibility of bringing this historic diner to Pawtucket. His reasoning ??? diners and arts districts go hand in hand. The Silver Top would be a great addition to Pawtucket???s 307 acre Arts and Entertainment District. Then city officials and the owner, Bernard Buoncervello, met to discuss possible site locations and financial assistance for this project.
A dated letter, February 27, 2002, from Michael Cassidy, the PRA???s Executive Director, stated the Agency had agreed to a $100,000 loan and set conditions.???? After the promissory note and other legal documents were signed, the diner was relocated to a Pawtucket site on Middle Street, owned by the PRA.?? The PRA assisted the owner in putting together a plan to rehabilitate and reuse the diner.
Unfortunately, the diner???s owner was insistent in operating the diner 24/7 in Pawtucket. In a letter dated January 30, 2002, the Planning Director explained victualling license requirements to operate in the City and that the City Council would make the decision as to operating times.
A neighborhood meeting was organized to discuss the diner owner???s request for a 24/7 victualling license. Neighbors opposed the 24/7 open hours, and, ultimately the City Councilor would not support this request.
In spring 2003 a site and building design plan were put out for bid with no bids received.
At the suggestion of the PRA, the City???s Pawtucket Business Development Corporation hired a consultant to write a business plan to seek financing for the project. However, no business financing was secured for the project and the project stalled.
In March 2007, the PRA filed a complaint with Superior Court against the diner???s owner to recover the loan. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court in 2012 and was remanded to the Superior Court and retried in November 2015. Three months later the Superior Court ruled that the PRA had possession of diner and it could be auctioned off.????????
Since its relocation to Pawtucket, the Silver Top Diner has remained covered with a tarp and unused since 2002.