If you frequent the Broad Street Diner during the weekend, then you probably know Natalie Manes or Steve Callahan. These two friends are servers at the beloved diner at Broad and Ellsworth streets. On the weekend, they are always there to greet their loyal customers.
The Broad Street Diner has stood for 61 years as a staple of the South Philly community. Many found solace here after the Melrose Diner closed in 2022−Broad Street’s sister diner and another South Philly staple. The Melrose Diner stood even longer than Broad Street: 82 years before it succumbed to a kitchen fire.
At this point, it is nearly impossible not to have heard that the Broad Street Diner is closing. Owner Michael Petrogiannis, who bought the restaurant in 2011 after it sat empty for four years, has plans to develop a 110-key hotel operated by Hyatt Studios in its place. While this is the end of the legendary Broad Street Diner, Petrogiannis plans to revive the Melrose Diner.
But for Manes, the Broad Street Diner is much more than just a diner.
“It’s a place that is stuck in time,” Manes said. “I used to come here when I was a kid with my dad. We would go to Saint Rita’s across the street and then we would go for breakfast at the diner.”
Not much has changed at the diner since then. It still has that classic train-car look to it, with booths and mirrors lining the walls, and a counter with bar stools at the front of the restaurant for a quick cup of coffee. Even the people are “untouched by time,” as Manes would say.
Manes spoke very highly of the customers, who she has been able to form connections with over the years of serving them. There is Joe, an older Italian gentleman who reminded her of her grandfather. He would come in wearing a fur hat and an ‘Italia’ jacket and be very particular about the size of his water cup. “I don’t need all of this water,” he would tell Manes.
“Where else am I interacting with people like this?” Manes asked, with a smile on her face.
Then there is Louis, or Lou, as Manes would call him. Louis is an artist who brings in his own index cards to draw little doodles on for the employees. For each holiday that has passed, Manes has a doodle from Louis. These index cards now live in a box under her bed.
Even the nameless customers leave long-lasting impressions on Manes, like the regular who sits at the same booth in the back with his newspaper for hours. His go-to is a strawberry milkshake and a chicken parmesan. Or the older family that comes in each Friday and always shows Manes kindness and compassion while she’s serving them.
“The people that come in are just great,” Manes said. “It’s just an older crowd of sincerely great and authentic Philadelphians.”
While she believes that many of these customers will return to the Melrose Diner once it reopens, she is worried that it won’t return to its charm. It will be nearly 3,000 square feet, with seating for 136 people inside and 46 people outside. Some of its old décor will return.
“I don’t even want to see the Melrose,” Manes said.
Callahan, on the other hand, is much more optimistic. “It’s sad, but it’s going to come back. It’s just change.”
While he was growing up, his grandfather used to buy birthday cakes from the Melrose Diner for each birthday in his family. It is clear that he shares fond memories of both the Melrose Diner and the Broad Street Diner.
“I really love this place,” Callahan said. “It’s an amazing place to work. The customers are awesome. The staff is awesome. It’s a very homey environment and I’m grateful to be a part of it.”
Whether you relate to Manes or Callahan, this is truly a bittersweet ending for the Broad Street Diner.
