Owners Of Historic Worcester Diner To Retire After 50 Years

WORCESTER, MA — The couple who has run the Kenmore Diner in Worcester are retiring after 50 years of running the restaurant.

Jimmy and Pauline Yantsides have worked side by side for decades. Jimmy Yantsides told WCVB 5-ABC that "a lot of people can't believe that a husband and wife can work together, but it's been done." That may be because each has their own side of the kitchen.

The Yantsides took over the Franklin Street diner in 1974. It had been closed two years prior, according to Spectrum News 1.

Some of the challenges they've dealt with over the years include a cold storage warehouse fire next door in 1999 and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The couple plans to visit Greece and Cyprus in retirement, Spectrum News 1 reported.

Their last day at the Kenmore was Monday, and they spent it serving up free breakfast to customers, who Pauline Yantsides said are "like family."

The diner's new owner, Christine Paddock, plans to keep breakfast the same and add a lunch menu, Spectrum News reported.

The diner receives a 3.8 out of 5 stars on 65 Facebook reviews and a 4.4 out of 5 stars on 597 Google reviews.

One reviewer wrote: "Perfect 'greasy spoon diner' atmosphere and food and service. I really like the ambiance of it being an old railway car."

Read the full story at Spectrum News 1 and WCVB 5-ABC.