Corner Lunch
Why it's listed
Corner Lunch is a stainless steel diner on a small corner lot at 133 Lamartine Street in Worcester. Built around 1955 by DeRaffele Diners of New Rochelle, New York, it originally stood in Babylon, Long Island. In 1968 the Musi Dining Car Company of Carteret, New Jersey, bought it, remodeled it and reassembled it in Worcester. Because the diner was built in sections, Musi removed the leftmost section and reattached it at the rear as a kitchen. The exterior has green porcelain enamel bands, fluted steel trim and a rooftop neon sign, and the interior keeps a sixteen-stool counter, booths and terrazzo floors. It has the largest seating capacity of any diner in the city and is reportedly the only Musi project in New England. The diner is also tied to the Efstathiou family, whose business grew from a corner lunchroom and store on the site into a full restaurant. Its listing rests on architecture and commerce, with significance dated from the 1968 remodeling and move.
Significance in brief: It is an important example of a remodeled sectional stainless steel diner in Massachusetts, showing a remodeling option made possible by sectional construction. It is reportedly the only example of Musi's work in New England and has the largest seating capacity of any diner in Worcester. It also reflects the growth of a family business from a corner lunchroom and store into a restaurant.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 00001286, listed November 15, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 133 Lamartine St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | November 15, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00001286 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1968-ca. 1970 |
| Architect / builder | DeRaffele Diners (New Rochelle, NY); Musi Dining Car Co. (Carteret, NJ) |
| Architectural style | Other: stainless steel diner |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a restaurant; the form lists restaurant as both historic and current function. Retains integrity of design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.80306, -71.78579 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 00001286.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5171612
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.