Additional Links

The Liberty Elm MySpace page

A Note for AIR people:

I am seeking your help in putting together the history of the Liberty Elm Diner at 777 Elmwood Avenue in Providence. This Worcester Diner (#806) was built in 1947 by the Worcester Lunch Car Company for Ralph Narducci of Providence. Narducci operated the diner at 25-27 West Exchange Street (where the Westin Hotel’s turn-around driveway is now) for about six years, where it was known as the Central Diner. In fact, this Central Diner replaced another diner of the same name that had been on the same site since at least 1932.

In 1953-54, the diner moved south to 777 Elmwood, where it remains today. It retained the name Central Diner through 1972 and then underwent a rapid succession of owners and names. The names included Elmwood Diner; Jim’s Diner; Jenn’s Elmwood Diner; Ole Elmwood Diner; Louie’s Diner; Roberto’s Cafe; and most recently, La Criolla Restaurant. The present owner bought the property in 2006, restored the diner, and opened for business in 2007 as The Liberty Elm.

I have done research at local sites and online, but I’m hopeful that A.I.R. readers might have photographs and memories of the previous lives of the Liberty Elm. Please contact Sarah (scroll down to the bottom). Thanks for your help.

The web page for the Liberty Elm at FarmFreshRI.org

Note: Anecdotes added below will still be made public on this page, and will most likely be used by Sarah as well.

Anecdotes

Carol DeFeciani (aka Kip McCloud) Would just like you to know, I received a Women Business Enterprise loan through the SBA and renovated the place myself with my sweat-equity partner Diane Horstmyer (aka Tinker Taylor) on a shoestring budget and a TON of blood, sweat and tears for 13 months before we opened this past August 18, 2008.

Add your Anecdotes

The information about each building grows as visitors let us know about their experiences. Did you or a member of your family work here? Did you grow up near it as a child? Let us know. All entries will be moderated and may be posted in an edited form. We will use your name unless you tell us otherwise. We will not make your email public.