Chelmsford Historical Society
116 Chelmsford Street - Skip's Diner
  • 1934 - Ted Emerson sold land on Chelmsford Street to John Kydd
  • 1938 - Based on the success of Kydd's Ice Cream stand selling coffee, hot dogs, and sandwiches, a "lunch car" was purchased and placed on the property to the left of the stand. Although not confirmed, it was likely built by the Worcester Lunch Car Company that operated there from 1902 to 1957
  • Feb 1939 - David "Bert" Kydd opened for business as Kydd's Diner
Chelmsford Newsweekly, August 29, 1940 (colorized by FM)
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Chelmsford Newsweekly, May 22, 1941
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  • Jun 1941 - A second lunch car was purchased and spliced onto the left end of the existing diner providing 20 additional booths
Chelmsford Newsweekly, June 19, 1941
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  • Dec 1946- Gefteas Diner, Inc. was incorporated in Massachusetts on Dec 13
  • Jan 1947 - John and Margaret Kydd sell the Kydd's Diner property to Gefteas Diner, Inc. with Peter Gefteas as president and Stephen Mpourles as treasurer. Note: Stephen changed his last name to Burliss
  • Oct 1947 - Ted Emerson sold additional land to Gefteas Diner, Inc.
  • Dec 1948 - Kydd's Diner was Renamed Skip's Diner after 4-year-old Charles "Skipper" Burliss
Chelmsford Newsweekly, December 16, 1948 (colorized by FM)
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Chelmsford Newsweekly, November 22, 1950
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  • Jul 1952 - Air conditioning is advertised in the diner for the first time
Chelmsford Newsweekly, July 24, 1952
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  • Nov 1952 - Ted Emerson sold additional land to Gefteas Diner, Inc.
  • Winter 1952-53 - The lunch car diners were demolished and replaced with a brick structure. (This timing is not confirmed yet, but was inferred from surrounding events)
  • Jun 1953 - A pastry department was added, and Skip's pies became known far and wide
Chelmsford Newsweekly, June 4, 1953
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  • Nov 1954 - Drive-up window service was added on the right side of the new brick building
Chelmsford Newsweekly, November 23, 1954
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  • Jan 1956 - The name of Gefteas Diner, Inc. was legally changed to Skip's Diner, Inc. on January 12
  • Dec 1956- The Band G Realty Trust is declared on December 31st to hold, acquire, or improve both real and personal property. The Trustees under this agreement are Stephen C. Burliss, Fred L. Gefteas, and Peter L. Gefteas. Note: Stephen's wife Ruby (Gefteas) lived in the same household as her first cousins Fred L. and Peter Gefteas from the 1920s onward
  • Aug 1958 - The name of Skip's Diner, Inc was legally changed to Skip's, Inc. on August 15
Chelmsford Newsweekly, November 19, 1959
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  • Jun 1963 - Charles "Skipper" Burliss tragically died at age 19 on June 9
Skip's Coffee Shop (Historical Society postcard 2021.10.2032)
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Chelmsford Newsweekly, December 22, 1966
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Skip's Town Room (Historical Society postcard 2021.10.2032)
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Chelmsford Newsweekly, October 5, 1972
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The Embers Lounge (Historical Society postcard 2021.10.2032)
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  • Oct 1975 - Skip's Restaurant advertised that they specialized in Roast Beef and Fresh Fish
  • Oct 1983 - Skip's Family Restaurant advertised that they specialized in Steaks, Fresh Seafood, Hickory Smoked Barbequed Chicken, and Spareribs
  • Dec 1988- On January 1st Integrity Foods LTD acquired the business and restaurant equipment of Skip's Restaurant. Later that day Stephen Burliss died from an extended illness, and brother-in-law George Gefteas died two days later at Lowell General
  • Jan 1989 - Integrity Foods partner Joe DiTillio owned several Burger King restaurants in Lowell, and rumors swirled that Skip's would become a Burger King. This rumor was put to rest, and assurances made that Skip's would continue unchanged
Chelmsford Independent, January 12, 1989
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Chelmsford Independent, June 8, 1989
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  • May 1991 - The Board of Health shut down Skip's Restaurant based on several equipment violations plus failure to connect to the town sewer. Joe DiTillio decided not to re-open due to the cost of repairs and was evicted
Chelmsford Independent, May 2, 1991 page 1
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Chelmsford Independent, May 2, 1991 page 10
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Chelmsford Independent, September 5, 1991
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Chelmsford Independent, September 19, 1991 page 1
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Chelmsford Independent, September 19, 1991 page 9
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  • Oct 1991 - Fred G. Gefteas as president of Skip's, Inc. and George Burliss, as treasurer, lease the business as S.O.N.S. Enterprises, Inc. They completed the needed repairs with loans from Enterprise Bank and reopened Skip's Restaurant on October 15, offering the same traditional family fare
Chelmsford Independent, May 14, 1992
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Chelmsford Independent, July 27, 1995 page 1
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Chelmsford Independent, July 27, 1995 page 14
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Chelmsford Independent , July 17, 1997
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2007, Skip's exterior at night (posted on Facebook by Dan Colucci)
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  • Spring 2008 - George Burliss and Fred G. Gefteas decide to retire from the restaurant business
  • Sep 2008 - The last meal is served at Skip's
Chelmsford Independent , September 4, 2008
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Chelmsford Independent , September 11, 2008 page 1
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Chelmsford Independent , September 11, 2008 page 15
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  • Oct 2008 - Skip's Inc. sells the property to Ryan Development LLC on October 15
November 17, 2008, Before demolition (photo by FM)      
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  • Dec 2008 - Skip's Restaurant is demolished during Christmas week
Chelmsford Independent, December 25, 2008
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December 29, 2008, After demolition (photo by FM)
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2022, 116 Chelmsford Street (Google Earth)
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This feature was created by Fred Merriam (FM) for the Town of Chelmsford in cooperation with the Chelmsford Historical Society. To comment: e-mail webmaster