Rare vintage diner moves to new home after restoration

PHOENIXVILLE, Pa. (WPVI) -- A rare vintage diner is getting a new home, but will be restored to its original look.

Karen Nesslage, of Phoenixville said, "Growing up in the restaurant, seeing people come in, they'd come in for their morning coffee or for their lunch. It was something that meant something to people."

The Vale Rio diner is leaving Phoenixville for good.

Former owner, Francis Puleo was asked, what was the most popular item on the menu? "OMG, fries with gravy and scrapple that was well done."

Once open 24 hours a day for 6 decades, the town staple now sits under a wrapping sheet in Puleo's yard, waiting to be transported.

The diner sat idly for a decade after it closed in 2008 until well-known Philadelphia attorney Tom Kline bought the timeless treasure this year with plans of his own.

Kline said, "I read in the newspaper that the diner needed a home and something bad could happen to it. We are going to take the diner as a wide load to New Jersey where it's going to be restored to its original pristine condition as though we turned back the clock to 1948.

The diner will be moved in the coming days, and residents are already lamenting their final goodbyes on Facebook.

One resident said, "I hate to see it go, I really do."

Action News asked Puleo if he was happy to see that the diner is going to have a good home. He said, "I'm sad to see it leave Phoenixville, but finally we got a home for it."

Obviously, there are a lot of memories for the town of Phoenixville.

And if you're wondering where the diner will go once restored, Kline says stay tuned.

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