Familiar Haverhill Diner Sports New Name and Greater Food Diversity

(Additional photograph below.)

Maria’s Diner formally opened Friday morning, beginning a new era for the former Mark’s Deli in downtown Haverhill.

The 2 Railroad Square restaurant was officially recognized by the City of Haverhill as one of downtown’s newest culinary additions with a ribbon cutting ceremony coordinated and scheduled by the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce. It brought customers, city officials, friends and family who gathered to support diner owner, Maria Emond. She pledged a strong focus on customer service.

“It’s very important we are friendly and take care of the customers. If we don’t have customers, we don’t have business,” she said.

Emond, who was born in Guatemala and has been a resident of Haverhill for the past 26 years, bought Mark’s Deli from Stavros Dimakis near the end of March. After a month of being open, Emond and the restaurant were honored when Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barret and a large group gathered outside the diner to cut the ribbon and hand Maria various citations to mark the diner’s “grand reopening.”

Emond worked her way up through the food service industry after immigrating to Haverhill in 2000. She worked as a dishwasher at McDonald’s in Bradford before becoming general manager and working there for 16 years. “I was so blessed when I came here. America is great,” she told WHAV. She began working for Dimakis at Mark’s Deli soon after.

It was in 2023 while working for Dimakis that Emond approached him and asked if he would rent out Mark’s Deli to her to serve lunch. “He was laughing,” Emond recalled, “and then I think he forgot.” It wasn’t until early 2026 when Emond asked Dimakis again about buying the business.

“He made me surprised. He put a number on paper and he said, ‘if you want the store, I need this much from you.’” He gave her one month to make the sale. “He gave me time and I did everything that I needed,” said Emond.

Maria’s Diner will continue to offer diner staples and old favorites from Mark’s Deli, such as pancakes, eggs and home fries while also offering new Spanish dishes that showcase Emond’s Guatemalan heritage. “I wanted to keep the old customers; I didn’t want to do a big change. And that’s why I kept the plates from the old menu.” Emond explained.

She said she has been cooking since the age of 9 and features traditional Spanish dishes such as tacos, pupusas and grilled churrasco steak on the menu. “The Haverhill community has a lot of diversity,” said Emond. “That’s why I introduced the new plates with the Spanish food and especially the Guatemalan plates.” Maria’s Diner also offers a kid’s menu. Emond’s talent in the kitchen appeared well known among family and friends. When asked about Emond’s cooking, family friend Valentina Ramirez told WHAV, “She’s an amazing cook.”