Roadside Development, the group that purchased Silver Spring’s Tastee Diner for $3.1 million, released a proposed plan for the future of the building site.
In March the iconic diner at 8601 Cameron Street closed unexpectedly after more than 70 years, as the owner Gene Wilkes announced his retirement.
“Due to personal medical reasons, I’ve decided to sell the property to Roadside,” wrote owner Wilkes, in a press release in March. “I have truly enjoyed getting to know their team, and I take comfort in knowing that the site will be in the hands of people who build spectacular projects, understand the community, and respect everything I have put into Tastee Diner. I need to spend more time focusing on my personal life and could no longer operate in this location. But I am elated that the original dining car will be incorporated into the new design. I have full faith in Roadside, and I am confident they will find a creative way to incorporate or repurpose the original dining car.”
This proposal shows the actual diner building and walls will be largely maintained with the exception of part of the diner car’s base. The plan also includes potentially 525 residential units, and 25,000 square feet of retail or commercial space. With the project and design still in their early stages, there is no clear timeline or cost associated with the design yet.
Roadside previously purchased the Capital One Bank building adjacent to the diner in August for $2.7 million. With the diner included, that’s more than three-quarters of an acre for this mixed-used community.
Tastee Diner’s flagship located at 7731 Woodmont Ave. in Bethesda remains open.
