100 years: Join in on a Century Award celebration for Northport Shipwreck Diner

The Northport Shipwreck Diner is 100 years old. 

On August 15 at 6pm, the Northport Historical Society will present the Century Award in honor of the iconic diner’s 100th anniversary. Join loyal customers and community members in the Shipwreck’s courtyard for a buffet-style dinner and drinks to celebrate the diner’s rich history. 

The Shipwreck dates back to the 1920s, when a trolley dining car was rolled onto its current landmark location on Main Street. The then Northport Diner was bought by Otto Hess in the early 1970s. His son Tim Hess took it over in 1996. In August 2022, in conjunction with its “Iconic Northport” exhibit, the Northport Historical Society honored Hess with the first ever Northport Icon Award.

That December, Hess handed over the keys to his Main Street establishment to Northport Village resident Denis Beyersdorf, who continues to run it with the passion of the Hess family to this day. 

The original Northport Diner was an old train car, rolled down Main Street along the trolley tracks and put into place in 1924. Two of its wheels are still underneath the boxcar. Another wheel is on display in the diner, with a fourth wheel recently donated to the Northport Historical Society Museum. That wheel will be on display when the museum’s new exhibit, “The History of Our Main Street,” opens in September. 

Tickets for the August 15 centennial celebration are available here. 

Did you know? The Northport Shipwreck Diner, usually open for breakfast and lunch, is now serving dinner until 8pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays for the summer. For regular operating hours and menu, click here.