Embassy Diner
History
editThe Embassy was built as a Brill Diner by Wason Manufacturing Company of Springfield, Massachusetts, one of two subsidiaries of the J.G. Brill Company which was based out of Philadelphia, PA.
The diner was originally built as the Market Square Diner by owner Bill “Winkie” Theroux in 1928 and originally stood at 253 Front Street in the Market Square area of Cabotville, Chicopee. It was known as Market Square Diner until 1966.
Bobby Theroux, Winkie’s son decided to expand the diner by building a brick addition on the right end of the building to increase seating in the establishment and subsequently renamed the diner as the Embassy Grill.
The Embassy continued to operate until 1978 when Bobbie sold the property of the diner to the city of Chicopee for a street widening project. A year later Bobbie sold the diner to Anthony Ravosa, who moved it to the Riverboat restaurant property in South Hadley, Massachusetts along the banks of the Connecticut River.
Unfortunately for Mr. Ravosa, he ran into a roadblock momentarily when the Town of South Hadley claimed moving the diner violated zoning laws and needed special permits. He would get the permits needed and use the diner as an oyster bar connected to the larger restaurant, Riverboat.
In the 1990s, the property in South Hadley was redeveloped into townhouses now known as the "Riverboat Village", eventually destroying the diner as well.
Gallery
edit- Gallery
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A 1978 photo of the Embassy Diner in Chicopee Mass. -
A 1978 photo of the Embassy Diner in Chicopee Mass.
References
edit- ^ Anderson, Will (2001). Lost Diners and Roadside Restaurants of New England and New York: A Tribute to over 100 of the Northeast's Old Time Best. North Country Books Inc. p. 184. ISBN 978-1893804012.
- ^ Baeder, John (Jan. 1 1978). Diners. H. N. Abrams. p. 144. ISBN 978-0810920781.
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