ArtCliff Diner in Vineyard Haven has been temporarily closed for about three weeks after a small fire halted operations.

Owner Gina Stanley said the fire was caused by a dishwasher malfunction. She said 90 per cent of the diner’s food inventory went bad during the 10-day wait for dishwasher repairs. Using a fire extinguisher to put out the fire also meant she had a lot of cleaning to do.

This combination of factors made her decide to temporarily close to regroup, she said, adding that she plans to reopen ArtCliff’s doors during the second week of October.

“We had planned on taking some time [off] in October, but being that I’d lost the food and was forced to close, I just decided to take some time now,” she said.

ArtCliff Diner celebrates its 82nd anniversary this year. The diner welcomed customers back in 2023 after an almost two-year closure for renovations.