Ohio managers buy out several Frisch’s Big Boys, company brand
As several Frisch’s restaurants closed this month, some Big Boy statues were stashed behind the offices of Frisch’s in Walnut Hills. The restaurants closed after receiving eviction notices for unpaid rent. Liz Dufour/The Enquirer
From the Cincinnati Enquirer: Frisch’s Big Boy Restaurants announced Tuesday it has cut a deal with a group of managers for them to buy an unspecified number of locations of the struggling iconic local eatery.
The group led by long-time Ohio-based managers, Don Short and Cheryl White, is also acquiring the future development rights for the Frisch’s brand, the company said. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Also not specified: which locations are being acquired or how many.
Playhouse Square’s Plans for Greyhound Station Take Shape With One Historic Bus
Sharon Holbrook
From Cleveland Magazine: Usually, a bus arriving at the downtown Greyhound station on Chester Avenue is an unremarkable event. But last Friday morning, a bus rolled up and created a bit of a scene. People on foot and in cars stopped to watch, pulled out their cameras, and asked questions. The attraction? A 1947 Greyhound bus, worn down by the years but still magnificent in sleek blue and silver, had arrived on a flatbed truck.
As Greyhound plans to exit the station (it will continue to operate bus service there through June 2025) the arrival of the vintage bus is the first tangible sign of the historic station’s next phase. Earlier in 2024, Playhouse Square Foundation purchased the building as part of its plan to expand its footprint beyond a theater district to create a broader downtown destination, says Craig Hassall, CEO of Playhouse Square Foundation.
Austin’s new historic preservation plan aims to protect what makes the city special
Cisco’s Restaurant & Bakery, which dates back to 1950, is one of the city’s historic landmarks. Gabriel C. Pérez / KUT
From KUT: Austin will implement a new historic preservation plan, replacing the city’s four-decade-old document.
“This is a turning point for our city to make sure that we celebrate everyone’s history and create great places in the process,” Council Member Zo Qadri said after the plan was adopted Thursday.
The plan includes 107 recommendations city leaders say will expand the tools, programs and resources for preservation in a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable way.
It includes goals and recommendations to recognize Austin’s rich and complex history and better protect cultural heritage like legacy businesses and murals. The document says the city will use preservation tools to prevent displacement of residents, reduce waste and promote energy efficiency.
The Historic Washington Restaurant That Serves Guests In FDR’s Train Car
Robert Haynes-Peterson/Chowhound
From Chowhound: If you’ve ever driven north through Seattle’s SoDo (South of Downtown) neighborhood towards Lumen Field for a Seahawks game, you’ve probably passed a cluster of a half dozen or so old train cars painted bright yellow. Seemingly plopped down in the middle of an industrial lot, the large sign rising above the cars is adorned in traditional Chinese characters on one side and “Orient Express” on the other. One particular car has a platform at the end with a placard reading “Presidential Limited.” Indeed, this humble railroad car once carried Franklin Delano Roosevelt during his 1944 campaign for a fourth term as president; it’s also one of the most intriguing bar/restaurant/karaoke spots in Seattle.
Orient Express is one of those quirky historic joints that garner attention from sites like Atlas Obscura and Roadside America. More recently, it was featured in an art book published by the web-based preservation project Vanishing Seattle. Still, this oddity on Fourth Avenue seems to remain a hidden gem. In other words, people are missing out.
NEWINgton rallies to try to save iconic diner
The plan is demolish the Olympia Diner on the Berlin Tpk. LoopNet
From The New Britain Herald: NEWINGTON, CT — A petition has been created to oppose the potential demolition of Olympia Diner, a beloved local restaurant with 70 years of history.
The petition, launched by Christian Silva through the platform change.org, has quickly gained support from the community, with 450 signatures so far. Silva shared with the Herald some fond memories of visiting the diner and said, “Each visit was followed by a day filled with joy and positive experiences.”
Crews transport diner along I-93 to eventual home in Lincoln
From WMUR: MANCHESTER, N.H. — A building that once was home to a Seacoast restaurant was transported along Interstate 93 from Bow to Lincoln on Monday.
It was once known as Roger’s Redliner Diner in Portsmouth before it closed in 2022. It was also previously known as The Monarch Diner in Dover.
Marcy Diner’s Taste of Adventure on Road Trip to New Destination
From WKTV: MARCY, N.Y. — If you drove through Marcy on Thursday morning, you likely witnessed something quite unusual: a stainless-steel diner on a flatbed truck.
The old Marcy Diner, which was previously located on River Road, made its way through the streets today, heading towards Cayuga County.
The diner traveled through the area on back roads initially, then continued along the main highway to its final destination.