If you haven’t heard yet, the South Street Diner may be forced to close at 2 AM. A major gripe against Boston is the lack of 24 hour restaurants and businesses. The South Street Diner is one of the less than a handful of places where you can sit down and get a hot meal anytime of the day. No, Dunkin’ Donuts doesn’t count (and yes, I do heart Dunkies a lot, but it’s not quite a restaurant).
Though the public hearing on the issue was already held yesterday, you can still show your support for the South Street Diner by sending an e-mail to the City of Boston Licensing Board. For Boston to truly be a world class city, we need businesses that stay open throughout the night. In a city as diverse as Boston, there are a plethora of night owls who should have the ability to sit down and enjoy a hot meal in a restaurant while the rest of the city sleeps.
Below is my letter to the licensing board. If you care about improving Boston’s nightlife, or at least not worsening it, send an e-mail to the board and let your voice be heard!
Dear Mr. Pokaski,
When making your decision on the South Street Diner, please keep in mind the rights of Bostonians to have at least one 24 hour eatery option. While a large majority of the South Street Diner’s patrons are coming from bars, clubs and other establishments, some of the patrons are also students, workers and tourists who visit the South Street Diner as it is nearly the only option for food at any hour.
While we all have a right to peace and quiet, there are some exceptions. When individuals move into a neighborhood, the responsibility of ensuring the local culture fits their needs and personalities is squarely placed upon the individuals.
The four residents who have complained about the noise at the South Street Diner voided any and all rights to peace and quiet when they decided to move in next to the only 24 hour restaurant in Boston.
There is literally a plethora of options for these four individuals. They can move almost anywhere else in the City of Boston and not have to deal with noise from a 24 hour eatery. Please do not punish the night owls of Boston but forcing the south Street Diner to close at 2AM. The desires of an extremely small minority should not cause the many patrons of the South Street Diner to lose their only 24 hour restaurant option.
The four individuals petitioning the city have options, the patrons of the South Street diner do not.
Forcing the South Street Diner to close at 2 AM would be a great disservice to all Bostonians (except the aforementioned 4), and potentially discriminatory against those of us who keep late hours, whether for business, pleasure, or necessity.
Thank you for your careful consideration of the issue.
Best regards,
Adam Pieniazek
Thanks to Paul Keleher for the photo of the diner.
Is this place famous in any way? I feel like I have seen it in movies..
I love diners…
Sure is Jim. It was recently in 21 with Kevin Spacey. From their site:
“The Diner has also been featured in numerous feature films, including: Hiding Out with John Cryer; Second Sight with John Laroquette; House Guest with Steve Martin; and The Blue Diner for PBS.”
I knew I had just seen it! I just watched 21 a couple months ago, going to watch it again now..
I just that movie again a few weeks ago and now that I think about it the diner does look familiar. No wonder!
Oh, and it’s also used as the icon for Boston in one of London’s airports.
To really be a world class city you HAVE to have diners that are open at all hours of the night. I think in a lot of ways it distinguishes cities from being just run of the mill towns to real metropolises.
Agreed. Right now we’re a world class city by day, and by night practically non-existent.
When I lived in Chapel Hill, North Carolina we had an all night, all day, year round restaurant and there were tons of Waffle Houses and other places open 24 hours. If a small college town in North Carolina can do it and handle it, why not Boston?
I totally agree with that. That’s one thing i love about san fransisco you can get food at any time of the hour…. and man is there some great food.
Great info! I will try go to there!
Ok!
Someone needs to start a save the diner movement.
Good post. Yes, I agree they should not close the diner and there is some history there too. Did they try to find someone to invest there? If it closed, this is really sad.
That’s a shame about the diner…it looks like one of those establishments that’s been there for years. How long has it been there? Atlanta went through one of the same processes, where a lot of it’s old landmark buildings were torn down in favor of putting up new gleaming towers…all in the name of progress.
I don’t even live in the same country but I think it shouldn’t be made to close at 2am. If ever I come to Boston I hope it’ll still be there and open all night.
That diner looks so familiar.