A historic Salem diner threatened by expansion plans at Salem State University could find a new home as a rooftop eatery in the city’s downtown.

A coalition of local businesspeople have proposed buying the Salem Diner, one of the last such “streamlined” buildings in the country and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, from Salem State and relocating it to the roof of 10 Derby Square and operating it as a year-round restaurant. Under the plan, the 49-seat diner would gain a surrounding roof deck that could hold 100 more patrons in the summer.

The diner would also take over the existing Goodnight Fatty space on the ground floor of 10 Derby Square, according to documents submitted to the Salem State, to use as a customer overflow waiting area. Goodnight Fatty owners Erik and Jennifer Sayce are partners in the project, along with Michael Sperling of local marketing firm Sperling Interactrive and owners of the top-floor space underneath the proposed diner location, lawyers Kevin McCullough and Robert Mazow.

The restaurant will not have a fixed concept, instead being programmed with new food options every six months.

“This will keep the food at the diner fresh and exciting for patrons and also serve as a laboratory for those with a new food concept to experiment with their idea,” the partners’ pitch states.

The eatery’s bar program would be the primary revenue driver. The eatery would target a June 2020 opening date. The $600,000 plan will rely in part on state and federal historic preservation tax credits.

According to WCVB, which first reported the story, Salem State recently decided to cease operations at the locally-beloved diner, which it has owned since 2013. The station reports that the proposal was the only bid recieved