Al Mac's Diner-Restaurant is an historic

restaurant A restaurant is a business that prepares and serves food and drinks to customers. Meals are generally served and eaten on the premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services. Restaurants vary greatly in appearan ...

building at 135 President Avenue in

Fall River, Massachusetts Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The City of Fall River's population was 94,000 at the 2020 United States Census, making it the tenth-largest city in the state. Located along the eastern shore of Mount H ...

. It is an example of the stainless steel

diner A diner is a small, inexpensive restaurant found across the United States, as well as in Canada and parts of Western Europe. Diners offer a wide range of foods, mostly American cuisine, a casual atmosphere, and, characteristically, a com ...

s in Massachusetts, with rectangular massing, a flat roof, a projecting center entry vestibule, and rear kitchen wing. The diner was built in 1953 and added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1999.

History

Al McDermott (the Al Mac of the diner's name) started his business providing food and drink to Fall River mill workers from a horse-drawn wagon in 1910. McDermott opened several diners along the Northeast, including this one in 1953. The diner's original location was where Brightman Street Bridge sits currently. Then it was moved to the current site of Bicentennial Park; later it was moved directly across Davol Street. The diner was closed in July 2012, due to the tough economic climate. After extensive cleaning and repair, the diner re-opened early 2013 under new management, with owner Robert Dunse as the chef, and Zachary Tenen as sous chef. In 2019, The Dunse family sold the business to Cliff Ponte, current president of the Fall River City Council/former acting mayor, and his family. The local businessman and politician hired his father, Cliff Ponte Sr., to run the business. Ponte has cleaned up and refurbished the diner.

Campaign stop

Al Mac's is a favorite stop for politicians on and off the campaign trail. This list includes Gov.

Deval Patrick Deval Laurdine Patrick (born July 31, 1956) is an American politician, civil rights lawyer, author, and businessman who served as the 71st governor of Massachusetts from 2007 to 2015. He was first elected in 2006, succeeding Mitt Romney, who ...

, Senate President

William Bulger William Michael Bulger (born February 2, 1934) is an American former Democratic politician, lawyer, and educator from South Boston, Massachusetts. His eighteen-year tenure as President of the Massachusetts Senate is the longest in history. He th ...

, Massachusetts Attorney General

Martha Coakley Martha Mary Coakley (born July 14, 1953) is an American lobbyist and lawyer who served as Attorney General of Massachusetts from 2007 to 2015. Prior to serving as Attorney General, she was District Attorney of Middlesex County from 1999 to 20 ...

, and the late Senator

Ted Kennedy Edward Moore Kennedy (February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States senator from Massachusetts for almost 47 years, from 1962 until his death in 2009. A member of the Democratic ...

. Kennedy in particular paid many visits to the diner over his long service as a U.S. senator from Massachusetts. Coakley stopped at Al Mac's on Election Day during the 2010 Senate special election in Massachusetts. Footage showing her visit was broadcast on CNN and other major news networks covering the election.

References

External links

Official website

Al Mac's Diner on Yelp
{{National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts Buildings and structures in Fall River, Massachusetts Commercial buildings completed in 1953 Diners in Massachusetts Diners on the National Register of Historic Places National Register of Historic Places in Fall River, Massachusetts Restaurants established in 1953 Restaurants in Massachusetts Restaurants on the National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts Tourist attractions in Bristol County, Massachusetts 1953 establishments in Massachusetts

History

Campaign stop

See also

References

External links