Tasty Burger to replace Rosebud?

[ron_newman]

Brandon Wilson from the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission told me that Tasty Burger is negotiating to buy both the Rosebud Diner and the Bar and Grille behind it. They plan to combine the two into a single restaurant.

The Historic Preservation folks are involved because Somerville has designated the diner as a single-building historic district. This means the city has to approve alterations to the façade -- such as painting out the name Rosebud on the diner, or removing the neon Rosebud sign on top.

If the deal goes through, the city will have to somehow balance its interest in historic preservation against the new business's right to put its own name on the building.

ETA links:

• Earlier davis_square LJ post about Tasty Burger
  
• Boston Magazine Chowder blog: Tasty Burger to Bring Second Location (and Booze!) to Davis Square
  
• Boston Restaurant Talk: Tasty Burger Is Coming to Davis Square in Somerville

(neither of these articles say it will be at the Rosebud, though)

Comments

[ron_newman]

The much smaller Buddy's Diner on Washington Street (east of McGrath) seems to be doing OK, despite being in a terrible location. And Kelly's in Ball Square is doing fine with a space about the same size as Rosebud.

[pch1.livejournal.com]

Buddys Diner has been for sale for at least the last 6 months. I, too, hate the loss of a landmark in Davis like the Rosebud. Questionable food quality aside, its sign is an iconic symbol of this neighborhood bridging the past with the present. Unfortunate as well, the loss of one of the few remaining places in Davis to get a proper breakfast during the week. Davis rents seemed to have priced proprietors out of 2 eggs, bacon, and toast as an option.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

It's been on the market for a few days short of a year, though they haven't changed their asking price in that time, either, so who knows.

[somervillesnow.livejournal.com]

Actually I see in MLS that Buddy's is for sale. I'm not able to offer anything other than inference on why that would be.