National Register of Historic Places

Modern Diner

Pawtucket, Providence County, Rhode Island
Listed
October 18, 1978
Type
Building
Period
Modern
Ref No.
78000002

About this property

The Modern Diner is a historic diner in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States. The Modern Diner is one of the few known surviving Sterling Streamliner diner still in operation. Its profile resembles that of a 1934 silver locomotive that once pulled the streamlined Burlington Zephyr train. The diner's roof, now painted maroon, was originally silver. New York City inventor Roland Stickney designed the diner, which the John B. Judkins Company of Merrimac, Massachusetts manufactured in 1940. The diner was originally placed at 13 Dexter Street in Pawtucket. It operated at that site until 1984, when it was moved to its present location to avoid demolition. The diner was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It was the first diner to be added to the register. The diner has been held by the same owner for over 28 years. Owner Nick Demou announced that the Modern Diner was up for sale in July of 2025. Its signature Custard French Toast was featured on television's Food Network as one of the "top five diner dishes in the US" in 2015. The COVID-19 pandemic caused it to reduce its services during 2020. National Register of Historic Places listings in Pawtucket, Rhode Island Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. RI-385, "Modern Diner, 13 Dexter Street, Pawtucket, Providence County, RI", 11 photos, 3 data pages, 1 photo caption page

Location

364 East Ave.
Pawtucket, Providence County, Rhode Island
41.86907, -71.38647

Categories

COMMERCEARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Gilbane's Service Center Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
St. Mary's Church of the Immaculate Conception Complex
Industrial
0.2 mi
Division Street Bridge
Industrial
0.3 mi
Pawtucket West High School
Industrial
0.3 mi
Mitchell-Arnold House
Industrial
0.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Bunker Hill – Rhode Island contingent
1775Revolutionary War
3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Modern Diner listed on the National Register?

Modern Diner was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 18, 1978.

What type of historic resource is Modern Diner?

Modern Diner is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Modern Diner?

The period of significance for Modern Diner is recorded as the modern era.

Can I research the history near Modern Diner?

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