Mt Airy's Trolley Car Diner Closing After 19 Years

MT. AIRY, PHILADELPHIA — Mt. Airy's popular Trolley Car Diner is closing, owner Ken Weinstein announced.

Weinstein said the staple diner is closing on Oct. 15.

"I am deeply saddened to share the news that Mt. Airy’s Trolley Car Diner will close its doors," Weinstein said. "We made this decision after much thought and consideration, and with much sorrow. I am extremely proud of our hardworking team of employees, and what we accomplished together in nearly 20 years of operations."

The diner opened in 2000, and Weinstein said he and his wife Judy wanted to "provide a family friendly restaurant and a community gathering spot and reduce blight in Mt. Airy."

"Since then, our NW Philly neighborhood has blossomed and grown," he said. "There are now many more places to eat, drink and gather today. Many of these establishments are within a walk or short drive of the Diner."

Those new restaurants have chipped away at the diner's customer base, Weinstein said.

"With significantly more options, the Diner’s sales have steadily declined, and they’re down by more than 20 percent since 2013," he said. "At the same time, many other costs associated with running a restaurant have continued to rise. Unfortunately, the Diner is no longer financially sustainable."

While the Mt. Airy location is closing, the East Falls outpost is not going anywhere, and Weinstein said they will honor all gift cards at the East Falls diner.

"Our main concern at this time, however, is reducing the negative impact of the closure on our employees, many of whom have been with us for years," he said.

Some steps Weinstein is taking to reduce impact for workers are:

• Providing employees with two months advance notice prior to closure.
• Setting aside $100,000 for bonuses to employees who stay until closure. All staff who stay through Oct. 15 will receive a severance payment based on their current wages and a bonus based on the number of years they have worked at the Diner.
• Offering workshops to assist employees with resume writing and interview preparation. They will also provide letters of recommendation for all employees who request one.
• Employees at Trolley Car Diner will have first chance to apply for any open positions at our sister restaurant, Trolley Car Café, in East Falls, which will remain open for breakfast, lunch and private parties.
• Organize a job fair with other restaurants in the area to encourage local hiring.

"We know these measures will only mitigate the negative impact of the closure on our employees, but we hope to make it easier for them find future employment with as little disruption as possible," he said. Our employees have been the face and backbone of the Diner during the past 19 years and we want to make sure they continue to grow and thrive.

"My family always enjoyed going to Trolley Car Diner and seeing many friends, neighbors and acquaintances during our visits," Weinstein said. "We appreciate all the friendship and patronage throughout the years."