😢 🚎 ❤️ #EndOfAnEra

Letter From Owner Ken Weinstein
Regarding Closure of Trolley Car Diner

I am deeply saddened to share the news that Mt. Airy’s Trolley Car Diner will close its doors on October 15, 2019. 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.

Our goal, when we opened Trolley Car Diner in 2000, was to provide a family friendly restaurant and a community gathering spot and reduce blight in Mt. Airy. At that time, our neighborhood had very few casual dining options, and the former Roy Roger’s building which we adapted to accommodate our design sat vacant and deteriorated for nearly a decade.

My wife, Judy, and I brought our three boys to the diner often. It was always a friendly place that had a strong sense of community and we took much pride in turning a blighted property into a thriving business that served thousands of customers a week. Since then, our NW Philly neighborhood has blossomed and grown. 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.

These new dining destinations have slowly eaten into our customer base. With significantly more options, the diner’s sales have steadily declined and they’re down by more than 20 percent since 2013. At the same time, many other costs associated with running a restaurant have continued to rise. Unfortunately, the diner is no longer financially sustainable.

We are confident that our community will continue to grow and that our customers will find many new dining options in the future. We will honor all gift cards at the Trolley Car Café in East Falls, which will remain open. 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.

Here are a few steps we are taking:

• We are providing employees with two months advance notice prior to closure.
• We are setting aside $100,000 for bonuses to employees who stay until closure. All staff who stay through October 15th 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. 
• We will offer workshops to assist employees with resume writing and interview preparation. We 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. 
• Trolley Car Diner will 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 to find future employment with as little disruption as possible. 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. We appreciate all the friendship and patronage throughout the years.