email: roadarch@outlook.com

Rhode Island Diners

(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)

former Johnny B's Diner [gone]
Cranston, RI
The former Johnny B's Diner was built in 1926 as a horse-pulled lunch wagon. It operated as Johnny B's in Cranston, RI from 1990-2007. In 2007, it was moved to Cranston High School West where there were plans for the students to restore it. That never happened and the diner was demolished in 2011.

Jigger's Diner
East Greenwich, RI
Jigger's Diner is a 1947 Worcester (#826). It has been located here since 1950. The diner closed in 1983 and remained vacant until it was restored and reopened in 1992. The interior features mahogany booths and trim. These photos are from 2004. In 2010 and 2011, the diner closed and reopened a couple of times. It reopened in 2012 as Jigger's Hill and Harbour Diner. [map]

State Line Diner [gone]
Foster, RI
The State Line Diner is a Worcester (#846) from 1953. It was originally located in Southbridge, MA. It later operated in Gales Ferry, CT as Big D's Diner. When it was moved here, it was initially named Ricky's Kitchen. It is now named Cherri's State Line Diner. In 2015, there was a fire inside which closed the diner. It was announced that the diner needed to be moved. It was still there in 2022 but gone by 2023. I assume that it was demolished.

Bishop's Fourth Street Diner [gone]
Newport, RI
Bishop's Fourth Street Diner is an O'Mahony from 1952. It was originally located in Swansea, MA. The diner was moved here in the 1960s. In 2022, the diner closed and was moved into storage in Meredith, NH.

Cindy's Diner
North Scituate, RI
I don't believe that Cindy's Diner is a "real diner", i.e., prefabricated by a diner manufacturer. It appears to have been built on-site. I'll include it here anyway because of the great sign and its diner-like interior. Does anyone know when this place opened or more about it? For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Modern Diner
Pawtucket, RI
The Modern Diner is a Sterling Streamliner (#4140) from 1940. The flat side was originally butted up against another building when it was downtown. Sterling diners could be ordered with either one or two streamlined ends. The Modern Diner fell upon hard times in the 1970s, closed and was boarded up. In 1986, it was sold, restored, and moved to its present location. With its original exterior and interior, it was the first diner to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. [map]

Star Diner (later Persy's Place)
Rumford, RI
The Star Diner is a DeRaffele from 1951. It was known as "Keenan's Diner" until 1964. It then became a Chinese restaurant known as the "China Star". It was purchased in 2000 by the Sanfords who own the Handy Hill Creamery in Westport, MA. The diner was restored and reopened in 2003 as the Star Diner. It closed again in 2007. The diner reopened in 2009. However, in 2010, the diner closed again and was put up for sale. In 2012, it reopened as Persy's Place. It had closed by 2023. For more, see this website. [map]

former Champs Diner
Woonsocket, RI
The former Champs Diner is a 1929 Worcester. It was originally installed in Pawtucket, RI and closed in 1989. The diner then sat in a junkyard in Providence, RI for several years. It is now located at the Constitution Hill Apartment development. These photos are from 2007. The diner opened in 2015. [map]

North Kingstown:
Snoopy's Diner [map]

Pawtucket:
Miss Lorraine Diner [map]

Providence
Diners		 Diners Main Page

RoadsideArchitecture.com  
Copyright. All photos at this website are copyrighted and may only be used with my consent. This includes posting them at Facebook, Pinterest, blogs, other websites, personal use, etc.

Tips & Updates. If you have suggestions about places that I haven't covered, historical info, or updates about places/things that have been remodeled or removed, I'd love to hear from you: roadarch@outlook.com.