Buddy’s Diner, the tiny 1929 Worcester lunch car that has long anchored East Somerville, is finally stirring back to life after sitting shuttered since 2023. A collapsed sewer pipe flooded the kitchen and forced the counter to go dark, cutting off regulars from their cheap, made-to-order breakfasts. Now a mix of municipal preservation money and neighborhood fundraising is aiming to get the grill sizzling again.
City grant and fundraising
Somerville's Community Preservation Act FY26 project list includes a $74,365 award to repair sewer damage at Buddy’s and pay for a historic-condition assessment, according to the city's City Council meeting records. Finance committee documents also record an appropriation that would allocate those CPA funds to owner Nicole Bairos.
Owner and fundraising push
Bairos, who bought Buddy’s roughly 20 years ago, launched a GoFundMe that has raised about $22,500 toward a $100,000 goal, according to the campaign page. She told The Somerville Times that "the diner is the only thing I have" and that she feels like she is "starting from scratch" after years of disruptions.
A small classic with a long run
Housed in a 1929 Worcester Lunch Car and parked on Washington Street since the early 1950s, Buddy’s is one of the area's last authentic lunch-car diners and a familiar stop for neighborhood regulars. The Boston Globe has documented the diner's history and the emotional push among neighbors to preserve the low-cost breakfast spot.
Neighbors rally to keep the counter warm
Community groups have staged events, including a Valentine’s Day "love letters" gathering, to show support and keep pressure on officials, according to WBZ NewsRadio. East Somerville Main Streets helped Bairos apply for CPA funding, and volunteers say more private donations and grants will still be needed to finish repairs.
What comes next
The CPA award is earmarked to fix the damaged sewer line and pay for a preservation architect’s condition assessment, per the city’s CPA documents. Bairos and supporters say the total cost to fully reopen will exceed that amount. The GoFundMe remains active, and city paperwork is moving through the appropriation process as residents and customers look to close the remaining funding gap and get Buddy’s back in business.
