Lost Restaurants of Fairfield by Patti Woods

Author:Patti Woods
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing Inc.
Published: 2015-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

In 1955, the Fairfielder Diner was the first establishment to get an official restaurant license from the town of Fairfield. Courtesy of the Fairfield Museum and History Center.

A hamburger at the Fairfielder cost just twenty cents. Courtesy of the Fairfield Museum and History Center.

Small fry dinners were available for “kiddies” at half price at the Fairfielder. Courtesy of the Fairfield Museum and History Center.

Disaster struck in 1970 when a fire destroyed the building. Each night, the diner would close in the early morning from 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. for cleaning. One evening, the dishwasher decided to cook pork chops on the grill, which led to the devastating fire.

“It happened to be the best thing,” said Neuman. “My father got money to rebuild. He cut out the back and focused on more seating.” After the diner was rebuilt, it became a popular place for families who would come in to order the Pike Deluxe hamburger special. “The diner was a way for my parents to make a living and be successful,” said Neuman.

The Fairfield Diner was open for business until 1979, when Artur sold it and went into retirement. The building was torn down and replaced by the Brick Walk. The Pike Diner was open until 1982, when it was bought and renamed Penny’s II Diner.

FAIRFIELD’S LANDMARK: LARRY’S DINER

Perhaps Fairfield’s most famous diner was Larry’s, located on the Post Road. The landmark building was built in 1927 by manufacturer Jerry O’Mahony Inc., the largest dining car factory in the world, based in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The O’Mahony diners were known for their sleek construction. They came in different sizes and styles, but quality and beauty were key elements found in all types. The floors were lined with ceramic tile, and the ceilings were made from Bakelite. The doors were Bakelite or stainless steel, and the side walls were trimmed out in mahogany. Stools lined the bar, and booths lined the windows. A brochure for the cars explained, “A modern Jerry O’Mahony dining car is more than just a casual eating place—it is the kind of place that people enthuse about and return to frequently…Jerry O’Mahony dining cars are recognized by every community as a distinct addition to their particular neighborhood.”102

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