Omnivare Battles Linden St. Odds

Two pinball machines, a loud jukebox, and a driving machine that whirrs like a racing engine and goes "whump" whenever the player brushes another car are the entertainment at Omnivare.

The new restaurant at 1 Linden St. near Mass Ave. has been open for three weeks, battling the odds which have seen three eating places come and go at the site since the beginning of last summer.

Garry Kittle and David Wood. Ominvare's owners, feel that so far they are beating the odds. "We're breaking even after only three weeks," Wood said yesterday. "We expected to do well, but we weren't sure it would start this soon."

"We intend to make it here," Kittle added.

Turnover

Since last summer, the site has been used for the Pan-San-at which Kittle worked-Ye Beef and Great Shakes, and The Red Caboose, which closed in May.

So far, many of Omnivare's customers have been street people, attracted by the music, pinball machines, and late closing hours.

The four member staff works in two shifts from 10 a. m. until 2 a. m. Steve Pechulis, who works behind the counter and designs the posters which advertise the store around Cambridge, first worked for Omnivare by volunteering to walk around Cambridge carrying a sandwich sign.

He has now begun a poster campaign advising passersby to banish the "munchies" with an Omnivare sandwich.

Delivery

Kittle said yesterday that he expects business to pick up in the fall when the students return. He also plans to begin delivery service then to bring sandwiches to those too lazy to brave the cold for a sandwich.