The First Diner

Did you know the classic American diner and today's food truck craze have their roots in downtown Providence? In 1872 Walter Scott, who worked at the precursor to The Providence Journal, noticed that workers downtown wanted quick meals during late-night shifts. Scott cut windows into a horse-drawn wagon and served snacks and coffee at the corner of Westminster and Weybosset. Learn more about Scott and how his late night food carts led to the invention of the diner on the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame website or through Edible Rhody.  

photo: Conlin's Lunch truck, 1918. Courtesy of the John Baeder Collection, Culinary Arts Museum at Johnson & Wales University.