Randolph's Nite Owl

538 Noyes Street

For more than a decade Randolph's Nite Owl was a fixture of East-town. Due to the proximity to Arkham's railyard, the diner operated extended hours, unofficially open twenty-four hours a day for a stretch during the Great War when local industry was producing woolen goods for the Army. The clientele was mostly working men- railroad workers, laborers, slaughter house workers, teamsters, warehouse men, and such. The small Worchester diner had space for 14 diners at a time and served a decent meal for the price. Unlike many of Arkham's businesses, the Randolph was open to Negroes, though they were generally expected to eat outside.
Unfortunately, a serious kitchen fire in 1922 forced the diner to close. While the owners originally planned to repair and repoen the business, a declining customer base - caused in large part due to a series of layoffs at the Arkham Worsted Mills - and the high costs, delayed the work and eventually the plans were abandoned. Today, the Randolph sits empty, and more than a little worse for wear. In addition to the damage caused by the fire, time and vandals have managed to smash every window and strip away any features not bolted down, save for the large electric sign that hung over the room simply saying "EAT." If the diner itself is not sold within a few years, the damage will be too great to be repaired, and demolition looks increasingly likely. (Huth, Chris, et al. "The Arkham Gazette, Issue 1." Edited by Ian Maclean et al., Sentinel Hill Press, Nov. 2013.)

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