By Jason Gutierrez

After a quiet acquisition in June, the neighborhood joint announced a temporary, renovation-driven closure with plans to re-emerge with a new menu, staff, and feel. This marks the third time the business, best identified by its street-level box car and overhead pink neon sign, has emerged from the ashes.

Davis locals may remember the original Rosebud Diner, owned by the Nichols family and built by the Worcester Lunch Car Company. The family-operated diner set up shop in 1941 and sold to Joe Cassinelli, chef and restaurateur, and John Delpha, chef, in 2013.

Rosebud’s second iteration retained its predecessor’s gothic aesthetic and debuted an expanded global menu anchored by diner classics. Upon its pending return, the restaurant will serve a fresh new menu with some Indian twists while keeping some classics. Chef Keith, a New England native with an ardor for Indian cuisine, has curated the new menu.

There is no doubt that the community will rally behind the business that will slip into the place of the iconic Rosebud Diner. However, change aches. As long as the restaurant’s temporary shuttering lasts, residents will endure the sprinkling of salt in the beloved establishment’s wound.

When asked about Rosebud American Kitchen & Bar’s legacy, an employee stated, “I want [Rosebud] to be remembered as the incredible historic staple in the Davis Square neighborhood. [Rosebud] is a small business that came so far because of the community and staff’s loyalty.”