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Gilley’s Diner in Portsmouth could get a major expansion
Developer Mark McNabb seeks city approval for food trucks, expanded seating, and building renovations.
Gilley’s Diner, a Portsmouth staple that dates back to 1912, may soon get a major upgrade.
Developer Mark McNabb, who bought the historic site in November 2024, is seeking city approval to add two stationary food trucks and construct a rear building in addition to expanding the diner’s footprint.
Plans filed through McNabb’s company, Ralph 1912 LLC, propose roughly 4,000 square feet of improvements, including ADA-compliant bathrooms, additional seating, trash facilities, bike racks, and new landscaping.
The proposed “food trucks” will stay put, according to McNabb.
“We don’t plan to move it,” he told Portsmouth’s Technical Advisory Committee on Thursday, according to New Hampshire Union Leader. “If the demand was there, they would be open all season. We use the word ‘food truck’ to highlight the scale.”
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McNabb also owns 125 co-living units and a nearby mixed-use project. The commonly owned properties will share parking, access, and utilities.
“The 1.2 acres I own here … it’s all going to remain under common ownership,” McNabb said on Thursday. “There are no plans to sell anything.”
Design plans for the food truck are still in development and will require approval from the Historic District Commission.
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