Irena Kaci
The Broadway Diner in Kelley Square has been a destination dining spot for almost a century. Founded in 1933 by the Isidakli family and run and owned for decades by Bill Isidakli, it is the cozy staple of Americana that Worcester bred Millennials remember fondly. Now so many years later, the torch of stewardship for this arguably historical diner has been passed on to Anthony and Nequel Germano.
The couple purchased the business just this past year and are planning to conserve its spirit while offering some of the more modern upgrades to service that will add another century to the diner’s history. Anthony Germanno’s background is steeped in the service industry, having formerly owned Putnam Pickle Deli & Webster Townroom. After a few go-arounds, Germano retired from the restaurant industry in 1998. Or so he thought.
“Once this opportunity came up, I really didn’t feel like I could say no,” Germano begins, “I mean this place is incredible! It’s been around for almost 100 years. At this point, I feel like a steward of history taking this on. There is a legacy here.”
The focus for Germano is to keep as much as possible exactly the same. Even though there will be updates, they will be modest and reflect the original style of Broadway Diner. There’ll be a fresh coat of paint, and some light remodeling. “Of course things like adding contactless pick up and delivery via all the usual platforms DoorDash, GrubHub and the like is necessary in our post-Covid19 world,” Germano explains.
Famously, The Broadway has been churning its own ice cream all along. More than that, part of the work has been to provide ice cream to various restaurants in the city, including places like Mari & Monte, Sole Proprietor and Peppercorn’s. Germano intends to expand Broadway’s ice-cream distribution to anyone looking to enhance their desert offerings by taking on some Worcester churned goods!
Since the Covid19 shutdowns, The Broadway has been serving only breakfast and lunch. Last month, Germano launched a dinner menu for the first time in almost 6 years. On the menu are all the predictable staples of yesteryear as well as some intriguing upgrades. “Chicken and Waffles has been added to the menu for instance. All the original Jewish delicacies stay though,” says Germano.
The attention to detail and loving restoration of its historic glory is visible as I make my way through the space. Germano has kept the space exactly the way those who grew up with it will remember. The restaurant has that calm before the dinner rush hour storm energy to it, as he fits the final pages of the menu into their plastic casing for me to glance over, Germano tells me, “Personally, I want to be able to create a dinner style environment that shows a positive feedback loop from customer experiences to sustainability and growth.”
The Germanos also intend to live in the spirit of generosity and community that has made The Broadway Restaurant so beloved for generations. “We still partner with Rachel’s Table and work hard to offer their organization a sufficient discount so that they can do the work that they do,” says Germano. Aside from being generous with their community, Germano is also looking to participate in many local culinary events, including The Taste of Worcester, a Fair in Woodstock, and provide a convenient dining experience for those attending a WooSox game.
From a consumer perspective, The Broadway Restaurant is the recipient of some much needed tender loving care from its new owners. There is no better outcome for a neighborhood staple than to end up in the hands of those who truly see its value and whose dearest wish is to continue to honor a classic. In Anthony and Nequel Germano, The Broadway Restaurant and all of its admirers are getting exactly that.
Visit The Broadway at 100 Water Street