A familiar Main South diner space tied for decades to one of Worcester’s best-known breakfast spots has entered a new chapter—this time with pupusas, tamales and a Salvadoran spin on the classic American brunch counter.
Belén’s Clark Brunch opened over the weekend at 934 Main St., taking over the longtime home of Annie’s Clark Brunch near Clark University. The space was operated for 35 years by Annie Jenkins, whose retirement in 2022 marked the end of a neighborhood institution before the diner briefly continued under Clark University management.
Now, the diner has reopened under the ownership of Zaida Melendez, who also operates Belén Casa de Pan next door.
The new restaurant blends traditional American breakfast staples with Salvadoran dishes and family-inspired recipes, according to a press release from Clark University.
“I want to do this because I love diner food,” Melendez said in the release. “My favorite dish is chicken and waffles, and I always try a diner’s omelet.”
For many Worcester residents — especially Clark students, alumni and Main South regulars — the reopening carries added significance because of the location’s history. Annie’s Clark Brunch had long been a staple of the neighborhood before Jenkins retired after decades behind the grill. Clark later kept the diner operating for a period with staff and students involved before it eventually closed.
Melendez said she initially hesitated when approached about reopening the space.
“I never thought I would open a brunch spot,” she said in the release. “But he said, ‘Why not?’ With the school’s help and encouragement, I got brave.”
Born in El Salvador, Melendez moved to Worcester as a child and once lived near Clark University. She said she wanted the new diner to reflect both her Salvadoran roots and her life in Worcester.
“I want it to feel homey. I want someone to walk in here and feel the cultures,” Melendez said in the release. “I don’t want anyone to walk in and think it’s all Salvadoran, because it’s not. We’re also Americans.”
That mix carries through both the menu and the design of the restaurant. Melendez said the interior was inspired in part by her grandparents’ brightly colored home in El Salvador, while family photos and personal touches are incorporated throughout the diner.
The menu includes Salvadoran staples alongside traditional diner fare, and Melendez has also made an effort to preserve pieces of the former restaurant’s identity. She plans to display Annie’s memorabilia in the space and has kept a version of the longtime breakfast spot’s signature meal on the menu as “Annie’s Special.”
“She made a great omelet,” Melendez said in the release.
The business itself is deeply family-driven. Melendez said her children help with baking, maintenance and social media, while several menu items are named after relatives, including “José’s Big Breakfast” and “Becky’s Special.”
“It really is a family business,” Melendez said in the release.
Belén’s Clark Brunch is open Tuesday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
