Bid on a piece of New Bedford history, and one that’s currently located in Dartmouth.

The Bristol County Sheriff’s Office is putting the former Shawmut Diner up for auction. The Sheriff’s office previously stated in 2015 that it wanted to use the building for business training for inmates. The opening bid was $10 and was at $35 at the time of this article’s publication.

The old Shawmut Diner served patrons for decades at the corner of Hathaway Road and Shawmut Avenue in New Bedford. Longtime owners Phil and Celeste Paleologos, wanted to have the diner be used to help inmates learn the restaurant business, and donated the diner to the BCSO following its closure in the spring of 2014, including funding the move from its former location to the BCSO in Dartmouth.

However, the BCSO did not receive millions of dollars it was expecting from the U.S. Department of Justice for a federal wire fraud case, and so they’ve decided to put it up for auction.

The BCSO recently sought, but was unsuccessful in finding, a local nonprofit or state organization to donate the diner to.

All funds generated from the auction will go to the state. Bidders should be aware that the diner does not contain any kitchen or cooking equipment and it will also need bathrooms and extensive work to be able to serve the public. The buyer is also responsible for moving the diner off BCSO property. 

A public viewing will be held at the Sheriff’s office at 400 Faunce Corner Road in Dartmouth on Tuesday, July 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. See the online auction at https://tinyurl.com/bddak84x for more details and pictures.