The owners of West Roxbury’s Rox Diner spoke at the West Roxbury Neighborhood Council (WRNC) Tuesdaynight seeking preliminary feedback on wanting to extend their operating hours and obtain a beer and wine license.

Owners John Fortin and Paul Lounderback came with their legal representative Anthony Ross to speak on their behalf at the District E-5 Police Station.

Presently, the West Roxbury establishment is open until 3 p.m. and they are in the early stages of applying for an extension of operating hours. If approved, they would close at 9 p.m. 

“For those not familiar with Rox Diner, there’s going to be no bar,” said Ross.” “This is a restaurant. We’re talking about serving beer and wine strictly with meals.”

Fortin's and Louderback's rationale for these operational changes fall under two reasons: Occupancy costs in the city are high, so extending the operating hours would help financially; In addition, they’ve had difficulty staffing breakfast and lunch shifts. The owners would like to retain their good employees and offer them more options for shifts.

Rox Diner recently opened another location in Newtonville. Unlike its West Roxbury counterpart, the restaurant has a beer and wine license, which it received last year. Presently, it is open until 9 p.m., and 10 p.m. in the summer.

“What we’re trying to do is make the operation of both locations the same,” said Fortin. “We see how well adding beer and wine to dinner works for us in Newton."