Shrewsbury
Historical Society
Established 1898
Mario - Fats - Caruso
1928 - 1993
Mario - Fats - Caruso
1928 - 1993
Edgemere Diner
1954 - 2021
“Whether you stopped in for a cup of coffee or sat for a plate of corned beef and hash or scrambled eggs and bacon, the staff was always friendly and conversational, and the food fit the bill.”
The Edgemere Diner was originally one of two Englewood Diners in the Boston area before being relocated to its new home on Route 20, Shrewsbury in 1954. With its Broadway-style signs, the Edgemere featured classic art deco style and original features including an abundance of stainless steel, period decorative accents, menu boards, a convex ceiling and tile floor. The Diner was 42 feet long and housed 18 original stools, six booths and a take-out window.
It was designed by the Fodero Dining Car Company, a diner manufacturer located in Newark and later Bloomfield, New Jersey. The company was founded by Italian immigrant Joseph Fodero who formed the company after constructing diners with P. J. Tierney Sons and Kullman Industries. The Diner was sold at auction in 2021 to Michael Cioffi, who planned to relocate the diner car to the Catskills area of New York and restore it to its original condition.
Edgemere Drive-In
1955 - 2004
“Great memories of sneaking in behind the screen, or friends hiding in the trunk of the car to avoid paying, to working concessions ‘Clam fritters were the best!‘, to your parents forcing you to wear pajamas - you afraid of being spotted by your friends.“
The Edgemere Drive-In opened on April 29, 1955 featuring the war film Battle Cry starring Van Heflin, Aldo Ray, James Whitmore and the crime film Cry Vengeance directed by and starring Mark Stevens. The Edgemere was advertised as the largest outdoor theater in the state with a capacity of 1,000 cars, a 120-foot CinemaScope screen, four 70mm projection units, a large concession stand and playground for the children (including bottle warmers for the babies, to help them sleep soundly in the backseat while you watched the picture.)
The theater was managed and operated by Peter Maroni & Daytz Theatre Enterprises Corporation. A severe storm in 1988 damaged the screen, which led to its downsizing to 80 feet. The Edgemere closed in 2000, and then with new ownership reopened in 2002. But by 2004, it closed its gates for the last time, its final feature the animated Western comedy film Home on the Range released by Walt Disney Pictures.
Neal McNamara, Historic Edgemere Diner Hits the Road (The Patch, May 25, 2022)
Mike P., The Edgemere Drive-In (Wickedlocal.com, February 12, 2008)
John Margolies, Edgemere Screen (Image)