Casey's Diner is a historic ten-stool
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 ...
located at 36 South Avenue in downtown
Natick, Massachusetts
Natick ( ) is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is near the center of the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, with a population of 37,006 at the 2020 census. west of Boston, Natick is part of the Greater Boston area. ...
, famous for its steamed hot dogs that "snap" when first bitten into. Casey's is one of the oldest operating diners in Massachusetts, and possibly in the United States.
History
Only 10 by 20.5 feet, the diner was constructed in 1922 by the
Worcester Lunch Car Company
Worcester Lunch Car Company was a manufacturer of diners based in Worcester, Massachusetts, from 1906 to 1957.
History
In 1906 Philip H. Duprey and Grenville Stoddard established the Worcester Lunch Car and Carriage Manufacturing Company, whic ...
in
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester ( , ) is a city and county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, the city's population was 206,518 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the second-List of cities i ...
. It was originally designed as a lunch cart on wheels, and was located in
Framingham, Massachusetts. Fred Casey bought the building in 1927 and moved it to Washington Street across from Natick Common. It was relocated to South Avenue in 1977 to make way for a bank parking lot.
The diner is nine bays wide and three deep. It has a metal barrel roof, and is clad in galvanized steel panels that have been painted yellow. It is mounted on a concrete block foundation, and connected in the rear to a concrete block building which houses the kitchen. There are two entrances: one in the center of the front, and one at the west end; both still have their original wooden doors. Much of the interior is oak, including the counter, counter apron, stools, and ceiling.
[
The diner was listed on 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;[
]
Present day
The diner is still operating. The most popular steamed, "snap" hot dog is the "all around" which includes yellow mustard, relish, and chopped, raw onions all placed under the hot dog in a steamed bun. The menu includes hamburgers and cheeseburgers, sandwiches, chips, drinks, and pies. Recently, breakfast hours and menu items were introduced and a double cheeseburger was added to the menu. A Friday-only fish special is served.
See also
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex County, Massachusetts
References
External links
Official web site
Diners on the National Register of Historic Places
Diners in Massachusetts
Restaurants on the National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts
Commercial buildings completed in 1922
Buildings and structures in Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Tourist attractions in Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Restaurants established in 1927
National Register of Historic Places in Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Historic district contributing properties in Massachusetts
1927 establishments in Massachusetts
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