Food for Thought: Idea for First Diner in US Cooked Up in Rhode Island

Walter Scott came up with the concept of a food wagon in the 1800s.

Friends eating fast food at the table in the diner
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Friends eating fast food at the table in the diner
BGStock72
Food for Thought: Idea for First Diner in US Cooked Up in Rhode Island
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Did you know that the good old-fashioned American diner originated in Rhode Island?

Walter Scott was a pressman in Rhode Island, working first for the Providence Evening Press and then for the Morning Star. His dream of being a young entrepreneur led him to quit his job, and in 1872 he began selling food out of a horse-pulled wagon.

That led to the diner as we know it today, perfected in the early 20th century by Jerry O’Mahony.

Get the full story in the reel below.

In the aftermath of the Brown University shooting, we’re sharing resources and community support services to help as we navigate these difficult times.
Ella Cook, a sophomore, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, a freshman, were killed during a final exam review session by a shooter who has not been found yet. Nine other students were injured, and the university’s president said most are in stable condition.
Resources to help create a safe space for kids to ask questions and process tragic events
The FBI announced a $50,000 reward for information
Rhode Island mass transit planners are soliciting public input on major projects to undertake in the coming years. RIDOT’s online survey closes today
The shooter is still at large. ‘We still have a lot of steps left to take, obviously, in this case,” Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said.