Dublin Core
Title
Nason Street Diner / Maynard Diner
Description
The Nason Street Diner (aka D's Subs, aka Maynard Diner, aka White's Diner, aka Hoffman Diner) was a classic American Diner located at 48 Nason Street from, at least the 1920s until the mid 1980s. (It was also listed as 50 Nason Street)
(Note: The history of this diner is still a subject of research. If you have information or photographs of the diner, please contact us. Source citations are forthcoming.)
Like the King Square Diner, it operated on leased property and the ownership and operation of the diner changed hands several times.
Nov 1925 - A cellar for a diner (also known as a lunch wagon or lunch car) on Nason Street, owned by Byron & Hoffman, was being dug and they found an abandoned oil tank from the Riverside Co-Op. It is assumed this is the same Nason Street location as the diner described in this item.
17-Nov-1933 - Maynard News article on the N.R.A. Armistice Day Parade references a "Hoffman's Diner" (and "Priest's Lunch") as a participant. (Why are we mentioning Priest's Lunch? Keep reading...)
In 1934 "Maynard Diner" began to appear in the newspapers - but it is unclear if these are referring to the same diner (even though the establishment the Nason Street Diner (then "Hoffman's Diner") would eventually carry the name "Maynard Diner".
Like a number of other businesses the diner had a bowling league team, so they are mentioned often in the newspaper for the latest league scores / rankings.
There are also references to a "Priest Diner" and, in the June 1933 marriage announcement of Catherine Benson and Harold Priest, the article notes that the groom is the owner of the "Maynard Diner". 1934 bowling articles switch between "Priest Diner" and "Maynard Diner"... two teams from one diner or two diners? It may take a while to untangle these names.
Priest's Cafe is listed as 42 Nason Street in ca 1940 (19-Nov-1941 James Priest sought a liquor license for the cafe at that address). (42 Nason was later the site of the Quintano's / China Ruby / Magnolia's restaurants.)
Feb 1938 - Announcement in the Maynard Enterprise: "George Comeau and Edward Theriault have purchased the Maynard Diner, corner of Nason and Summer Streets, Maynard. Harold Priest, well known in the business, former manager, has been engaged as manager." (Nothing in this announcement makes sense.)
ca 1936 - ca 1950 the diner was operated by Maynard resident Peter White. We have newspaper articles referring to it as "White's Diner" 1936-1944.
A 1943 article shows that "Priest's Cafe" and "White's Diner" are clearly two different establishments.
ca 1950 - ca 1955 - the diner was operated by Maynard residents Sherman Sebastian and Gordon Burns. Sherman Sebastian ("Sherm") was a well-recognized chef in town and had worked at White's Diner since (at least) 1943.
ca 1955 - ca 1965 - the diner was operated by Maynard resident Charlie Smith as the "Maynard Diner".
ca 1965 - ca 1985 - the diner operated by Maynard resident Bob Finnilia (see 2016.157) as the "Maynard Diner"
ca 1985 - Operating under the name D's Subs.
ca 1985 - Demolished (along with Bacharach loading dock) by Bill Murphy Construction to construct New England Appliance building.
(Note: The history of this diner is still a subject of research. If you have information or photographs of the diner, please contact us. Source citations are forthcoming.)
Like the King Square Diner, it operated on leased property and the ownership and operation of the diner changed hands several times.
Nov 1925 - A cellar for a diner (also known as a lunch wagon or lunch car) on Nason Street, owned by Byron & Hoffman, was being dug and they found an abandoned oil tank from the Riverside Co-Op. It is assumed this is the same Nason Street location as the diner described in this item.
17-Nov-1933 - Maynard News article on the N.R.A. Armistice Day Parade references a "Hoffman's Diner" (and "Priest's Lunch") as a participant. (Why are we mentioning Priest's Lunch? Keep reading...)
In 1934 "Maynard Diner" began to appear in the newspapers - but it is unclear if these are referring to the same diner (even though the establishment the Nason Street Diner (then "Hoffman's Diner") would eventually carry the name "Maynard Diner".
Like a number of other businesses the diner had a bowling league team, so they are mentioned often in the newspaper for the latest league scores / rankings.
There are also references to a "Priest Diner" and, in the June 1933 marriage announcement of Catherine Benson and Harold Priest, the article notes that the groom is the owner of the "Maynard Diner". 1934 bowling articles switch between "Priest Diner" and "Maynard Diner"... two teams from one diner or two diners? It may take a while to untangle these names.
Priest's Cafe is listed as 42 Nason Street in ca 1940 (19-Nov-1941 James Priest sought a liquor license for the cafe at that address). (42 Nason was later the site of the Quintano's / China Ruby / Magnolia's restaurants.)
Feb 1938 - Announcement in the Maynard Enterprise: "George Comeau and Edward Theriault have purchased the Maynard Diner, corner of Nason and Summer Streets, Maynard. Harold Priest, well known in the business, former manager, has been engaged as manager." (Nothing in this announcement makes sense.)
ca 1936 - ca 1950 the diner was operated by Maynard resident Peter White. We have newspaper articles referring to it as "White's Diner" 1936-1944.
A 1943 article shows that "Priest's Cafe" and "White's Diner" are clearly two different establishments.
ca 1950 - ca 1955 - the diner was operated by Maynard residents Sherman Sebastian and Gordon Burns. Sherman Sebastian ("Sherm") was a well-recognized chef in town and had worked at White's Diner since (at least) 1943.
ca 1955 - ca 1965 - the diner was operated by Maynard resident Charlie Smith as the "Maynard Diner".
ca 1965 - ca 1985 - the diner operated by Maynard resident Bob Finnilia (see 2016.157) as the "Maynard Diner"
ca 1985 - Operating under the name D's Subs.
ca 1985 - Demolished (along with Bacharach loading dock) by Bill Murphy Construction to construct New England Appliance building.
Creator
Dave Griffin
Date
ca 1925 - ca 1985
Contributor
Research by Tom Sheridan, Paul Boothroyd, Dave Griffin, et al.
Photo is an AI enhanced enlargement of a MFD fire photograph of the Spaghetti House Pizza fire that included the diner. This is the best photograph we currently have of the diner. See 2023.330.
Identifier
2025.161
Document Item Type Metadata
Storage
DFO