Classic American Diners

When asked, most folks would agree that a typical diner is a specific type of eatery with qualities that make it unique from any other. Recognizable qualities to most patrons would include a shiny quilted backdrop littered with photographs, pop art, and vintage signs from an era that bustled with people and activities that can now be considered American icons.

In most cases, the normal American diner will offer counter service, retro tables & matching chairs and of course booths which may or may not be equipped with functioning juke boxes. The basic menu of most diners will almost always include the popular cheeseburger, a "house special", and more than likely a 24-hour breakfast menu. These items normally come in the typical diner fashion that offers patrons reasonable prices with huge servings served on a plate the size of a hubcap.

For anyone who truly loves these shiny blasts from the past, the diner's architectural style itself seems to remain even more important then what may be found inside within the vintage walls. According to "diner experts" the definition of a true "diner" means that the prefabricated structure was built in a factory by a diner manufacturer and then moved to its destination in sections.

These shiny eateries did not always have such style and pizazz, in fact their humble beginnings dates back to Providence, Rhode Island to early 1872 when Walter Scott decided to sell sandwiches, chicken plates, and meat pies from his horse-drawn freight wagon. Customers flocked liked seagulls selling Walter out of product on a daily basis.

The popularity of the food wagon did not go unnoticed, so much so that Sam Jones, a local and a regular quickly followed the bandwagon by opening up shop in nearby Worchester, Massachusetts. The only difference was that Sam recognized the fact that smell and product alone would not draw people to his carriage so he decorated his cart with stained-glass windows and other colorful decorations to lure customers in.

The success of the lunch carts was instantaneous, but with modern times they began to change in style once electric trolleys replaced horse drawn carriages. Railroad style eateries began to pop up just about everywhere east of the Mississippi once entrepreneur Patrick J. Tierney of New Rochelle, New York used the concept of mass-production in an area that was becoming main stream. His idea was to modernize railroad cars by adding booths, tables, and toilets to the interior. In fact it was Patrick himself that dubbed the lunch wagons "diners" by taking Americans love for the railroad and sending it off to a new level that quickly became a mainstay known by most today as classic diners.

Despite the popularity of these shiny vintage road side classics, most diners hit hard times when the trendier fast food giants like McDonald's began appearing in the late 1950's, and people began searching for quicker more convenient meals over nostalgia. Unfortunately the shiny eateries lost customers and were forced to close up shop.

Luckily nostalgia never dies in the hearts of vintage, antique, and retro fans, and because of this love affair with shiny objects and food, approximately 3,000 diners remain intact across the country, and shows like Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives featuring Guy Fieri who frequently travels the globe in search of diners with interesting histories, unusual settings or off the hook menus that could include alligator or kangaroo have brought them back to life once again.

Classic American Diners

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is literally littered with retro diners that offer roadside comfort food and Park Dinor in Erie, Pennsylvania holds the honor of being the state's first diner listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Route 40 Classic Diner, Route 40 East, Brownsville, PA. Phone: 724-785-4000

This shiny retro roadside diner offers daily specials from 1.99 to 6.99 and the Garbage Plate is a favorite of locals. This crowd pleaser offers a stack of eggs, sausage, bacon, ham, onions, peppers, home fries, biscuits & gravy 24 hours a day for just 4.99.

Sally's Diner & Sara's Restaurant, 25 Peninsula Drive, Erie, Pa.: Just at the entrance to Presque Isle Park which just happens to receive more visitors yearly then Yellowstone National Park. This 1957 special offers everything from daily blue plate specials to hotdogs, burgers, and old fashioned milkshakes while you relax in a true malt shop atmosphere. http://www.sarasandsallys.com.

Daddypops Diner, 232 N York Rd, Hatboro, PA., Phone: 215-675-9717

This classic diner is an old fashioned box car diner that not only has curb appearance, but also draws in long lines of hungry fans. The food is inexpensive and delicious. The interior is whimsical and features a counter anchored at each corner by a barber's chair.

Virginia

The 29 Diner in Fairfax, Virginia was constructed alongside Route 29 in July of 1947; the 29 Diner has managed to remain in operation all these years, and is the last classic diner in the vicinity of Fairfax. In 1992 the 29 Diner was added to the list of National Register of Historic Places. http://www.29diner.com/.

Connecticut

Collins Diner, 53 Main Street, Canaan, CT. Phone: 860-824-7040

Rated one of the Top 10 Diners in New England by the New York Times for their fast service and good food since 1941.

Massachusetts

Salem Diner, 70 Loring Avenue, Salem, MA. Phone: 978-741-7918

This Sterling Streamliner was built by the J.B. Judkins Company in 1941 and has occupied a small lot at the corner of Loring Avenue & Canal Street for nearly sixty years. It remains in nearly perfect condition and receives rave reviews for both food and service.

Michigan

Rosie's Diner, 4500 14 Mile Rd, Rockford Michigan Phone: 616-866-3663

This retro diner is so smoking hot that it was featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. It is the original diner from the Bounty commercials featuring Nancy Walker aka Rosie whose humble beginnings were born in Little Ferry, New Jersey in 1946. The original dining car was a paramount deluxe dining car originally named the Silver Dollar Diner. The menu includes favorites from diner dogs and burgers to fried bologna sandwiches and floats.

Facts about Diners

Webster's Dictionary defines a diner as a restaurant in the shape of a railroad car. The word "diner" is a derivative of "dining car" and reflects the styling's that diner manufacturers borrowed from railroad cars. Through time, people have mistakenly believed that all diners are converted railroad cars or trolleys. While in fact some were, the vast majority of diners was built to be diners and is not salvaged rolling stock.

If you look carefully enough, most diners have a small nameplate somewhere in the interior identifying the company that built it, but they are often small and not easy to find.

The American Diner Museum states that the Massachusetts Historical Commission has placed all vintage functioning diners on the National Register of Historic Places.

In order to increase business, particularly from women who secured the right to vote in 1920, diner owners cleaned up their image, adding shrubs and flower boxes, offering booth service and repainting their diners. Many dining car owners included the word "Miss" in their names to help feminize and soften their image. -American Diner Museum-