By Nance Ebert, Contributing Writer
Westborough – For Phyllis Keene and Mark Sullivan, the husband-and-wife owners of the South Street Diner in Westborough, the vision for their popular restaurant has already exceeded their expectations.
The couple is now celebrating their 10th anniversary owning the diner, located at 38 South St., just off the rotary in the downtown area.
The couple’s journey as restaurant proprietors began in 2004 when a run-down, abandoned building on South Street, next to their current location, became available. In 2009 it moved to its current spot after Central One Credit Union redeveloped that lot and several others next to it. Central One’s Westborough branch is now at 40 Street; the Community Advocate is on the other side of the diner, at 32 South Street.
“When guests come in to South Street Diner, they are greeted warmly and enjoy the freshest, high quality food,” Sullivan said. “The menus I have incorporated reflect the travels of my life. We serve delicious breakfast food, Maine lobster in season, wonderful salads, thick sandwiches, and even host Thursday and Friday night dinners complete with candlelit tables and crystal wine glasses.”
The owners praise their “talented and dedicated staff” for much of their success. Many have been employed there since the diner opened.
“This is extremely rare in the food industry. They are the face of the diner,” Sullivan said.
The couple believes strongly in supporting their community, especially local students. Their son, Tyler, graduated from Westborough High School (WHS) in 2002 and received scholarships to help further his education at the University of Vermont. Today, he is the CEO of BombTech Golf in Vermont.
So grateful were they for that financial assistance, they have chosen to “pay it forward” by awarding an annual scholarship each year to a WHS student.
Each applicant must write an essay about their experience at the diner. In these essays, it is apparent that for these students, the diner was not simply a place to eat but a way for them to observe hardworking people who give back to the community.
One student noted, “The South Street Diner is more than just a quick stop for a snack; the diner is a major part of Westborough’s history.”
Because they have a strong commitment to helping others, Keene and Sullivan also have also donated to many charities and causes, including Sunshine Kids, Art on the Common, Westborough Education Foundation, Armstrong Parent Group, the Jimmy Fund, and The One Fund.
It’s not just their customers who are fans; they have received ‘Best of” awards from local media and have been presented a “Gold Plate” by the hosts of the former cable television show, TV Diner. The diner has also received rave reviews on Trip Advisor and Yelp. As a result, many guests from out-of-state often stop in when they are in town.
In the decade since opening, the couple has celebrated many life experiences with their guests such as weddings, graduations, births of grandchildren and much more.
“It’s funny because some of the kids that were fussy, I remember holding them so their parents could finish their meal. Now when they come in, they are taller than me,” Keene said.
The couple has two ways to help their customers celebrate their tenth anniversary with them.
For ten days, Oct. 10 – 19, they will be holding an “All the Fish-n-Chips You Can Eat” special for $10.
They will be also giving away a pair of tickets for the Sunday, Nov. 2, New England Patriots game versus the Denver Broncos to be held at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
To enter, stop in the diner for a meal and fill out a slip with your email address.
“Running a restaurant is hard work but it’s been really good to us. We are thankful for having this opportunity,” Keene said.
“We just love this place and all that it represents,” Sullivan added. “We do work hard but we are living our dream.”