Former Shawmut Diner up for auction

NEW BEDFORD, Mass — A piece of New Bedford history is up for auction.

The Bristol County Sheriff’s Office is putting the Shawmut Diner up for auction for as little as $10.

The old Shawmut Diner sat on the corner of Hathaway Road and Shawmut Avenue in New Bedford and served residents for decades. In 2014 it closed, and its owners donated the diner to the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office.

The online auction, hosted by Auctions International, started Thursday afternoon and runs until July 27. Longtime owners Phil and Celeste Paleologos, are seeking to have the diner be used to help inmates learn the restaurant business

According to a release, the Sheriff’s office “planned to use asset forfeiture money to breathe new life into the old diner as a teaching facility to train inmates on food services and business operations. However, the millions of dollars the BCSO was expecting from the U.S. Department of Justice never came, and with the BCSO unable to secure further funding to rehab the former diner”, Sheriff Paul Heroux felt the best way to move forward would be to put it up for auction.

“Hopefully, it will find a good home. It’s a unique piece of local history,” Sheriff Heroux said.

The diner does not contain any kitchen or cooking equipment or bathrooms. The diner will require multiple renovations. The buyer is also responsible for moving the diner off BCSO property.

Opening bid is $10.

A public viewing will be held at the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, July 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for anyone interested in checking out the diner before bidding.

For more information on the action, visit the link here.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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