Buddy's Diner, a Somerville landmark, has been dark for years. Now the city is rallying to reopen it.

"As one of the region's last authentic vintage lunch cars, Buddy's was a time capsule, keeping the neighborhood well fed with hot platters of hand-cracked eggs and made-to-order bacon on the cheap. Now it's a mausoleum."

"Buddy's, built in 1929 and moved from Leominster to Somerville in 1951, was already a local institution by the time she took over. She kept things mostly the same, down to the recipe for homemade hash served by its previous owners, while also peppering the menu with Portuguese dishes of her own."

"It just makes me so sad and depressed and angry, said owner Nicole Bairos. Before this past week, she hadn't been there in person in months. Fearing what could be lost forever, neighbors are trying to gin up enough public support, and funding, to keep the endangered landmark alive."

Buddy's Diner, a 1929-built authentic vintage lunch car, has sat empty for three years following a plumbing issue that forced its closure. Owner Nicole Bairos, who purchased the diner at age 22 in 2006, maintained its classic character while adding Portuguese dishes to the menu, building a loyal customer base. The diner, originally built in 1929 and relocated to Somerville in 1951, served as a neighborhood institution offering affordable, made-to-order meals. With its iconic red-and-blue sign, vinyl stools, and handwritten lunch specials, Buddy's represented a disappearing piece of regional history. Concerned neighbors and regulars are now working to secure public support and funding to preserve this endangered landmark before it is lost forever.

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