Despite its solid homecooked and inexpensive fare, the city-owned Hollywood Diner will close its doors under the latest of a string of failed proprietors.

The iconic stainless-steel eatery, located at Holliday and Saratoga streets near City Hall, simply could not sustain enough business to keep going, according to a report to be submitted to the Board of Estimates on Wednesday.

The report said that the restaurant, operated by Richard T. White trading under the name of Thomasino’s, reported $18,903 in revenues since opening in October, but had expenses of nearly $25,000.

“Thomasino’s is commended for its commitment to the original purpose of the ‘Kids Diner’ and its efforts to maintain operations,” noted the report by the Department of Real Estate.

Big Screen Pedigree

The city will allow White to break his 18-month lease and close the business by early August. The extra time will allow three students to complete a food training program, which was part of the lease arrangement.

A native of Long Island, N.Y., the diner was carted down to Canton in 1981 and used as the centerpiece of Barry Levinson’s celebrated movie, “Diner,” about five guys growing up in 1950s Baltimore.

Following the film’s success, Mayor William Donald Schaefer lobbied to make the city the diner’s permanent home, which eventually happened courtesy of nearly $1 million in donations from local businesses led by WBAL Radio. (See here for more.)

Training Center for Jobs

The idea was to make the diner, originally called the Kids Diner, into a training center for entry-level restaurant and hospitality jobs.

Unfortunately, there’s been no Hollywood ending. After a half-dozen starts by operators with various themes and menus, the restaurant has yet to find a winning formula.

Many people have speculated that the eatery’s biggest problem is its location in the shadow of the elevated Jones Falls Expressway.

On Sundays, however, the same corner lot is filled with people carrying bags of heirloom tomatoes and collard greens from the downtown Farmers’ Market. (Limited Sunday morning hours don’t seem to be helping the restaurant’s bottom line enough.)

City Funds Needed?

Bearing the news of the diner’s latest closing, the report to the Board of Estimates says, “Prior history of the diner included [a] City subsidy and contributions from the private sector for the operation of the training program.”

It concludes that “the future of the diner as a vocational opportunity for youth will likely require some subsidy and/or grant funding to support its operations.”

In its six months of operation, Thomasino’s “graduated” four students who successfully trained in customer service skills, kitchen operations and safety, and basic cooking skills.

The previous operator, Chesapeake Center for Youth Development, was dismissed by the city because it allegedly did not train enough students.