Want to eat at the Shawmut Diner again? You may get your chance.

Matthew Ferreira, The Standard-Times
Updated ·2 min read

NEW YORK — Locals who miss the Shawmut Diner may have their chance to eat there once again, although they'll have to make it a road trip.

As it turns out, the buyer who won the stainless steel diner at auction in July — with his bid of $20,200 — was New Yorker Evan Blum, owner of Demolition Depot in Harlem, and the yet-to-open Irreplaceable Artifacts over in Connecticut. And while his business is in buying and selling old items like the Shawmut Diner, Blum has other plans in this case.

"I have a property over in Norwich, CT and I'm opening up an art, antiques and crafts market there," he said, "and I wanted to put this in the parking lot to help attract more people.

"I figured I'd get one of my operators there to bring in some decent food and set it up so it'll be an accomodation."

In this file photo, the iconic Shawmut Diner is seen being disassembled by Geddes Building Movers crews in preparation to be moved to the Dartmouth House of Correction, where it remains now, but not for long.
In this file photo, the iconic Shawmut Diner is seen being disassembled by Geddes Building Movers crews in preparation to be moved to the Dartmouth House of Correction, where it remains now, but not for long.

Blum, noting he's still working out "some logistics" of transporting the diner from the Bristol County House of Correction property in Dartmouth to Norwich, Connecticut, said he looks to have the diner up and running "some time next year."

Get some background: After an intense bidding war, Shawmut Diner has been auctioned off. Here's what we know.

"It's an old cardboard box factory with some land and it's right on a river," Blum said of his Norwich property. "It's picturesque, so it'll have a nice setting."

Not Blum's first brush with New Bedford

When it came to hearing about the opportunity to buy the Shawmut Diner, Blum said a friend who lives in New Bedford tipped him off.

"I was told about it after it hit the press out there," he said.

In this file photo, the interior of the Shawmut Diner is seen during an open house event at the Dartmouth House of Correction in July 2023, while bids were ongoing in an online auction to purchase it. Now, plans are in the works to bring it to Connecticut, where it will serve patrons once again.
In this file photo, the interior of the Shawmut Diner is seen during an open house event at the Dartmouth House of Correction in July 2023, while bids were ongoing in an online auction to purchase it. Now, plans are in the works to bring it to Connecticut, where it will serve patrons once again.

It wasn't the first time Blum has dealt with a piece of the Whaling City's past.

"I bought the original iron fence that went all around City Hall," Blum said, noting he'd purchased the fence from New England Demolition and Salvage. Blum also mentioned at one time being interested in buying New England Demolition and Salvage itself, but it didn't come to pass.

Will Shawmut Diner ever be back on the market?

Blum says his plans with Shawmut Diner are part of a bigger vision "to revive" the town of Norwich, Connecticut, which he says has few dining options. Asked if he'd ever consider selling the diner for the right offer, he replied: "I would have to listen to the offer to say yes or no," but affirmed its sale isn't something he'd actively pursue.

Read the latest: Driver charged with motor vehicle homicide for UMass Dartmouth student's death. What we know

"A couple people I know and their friends have said they'd want to buy it if I don't use it," he said.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford landmark Shawmut Diner headed to Norwich, CT