The lights of the good old-fashioned diner may be dimming in America, but we remember the diners we grew up with. Soda bars, dessert cases, and those swivel seats edged in chrome. And the pie! There used to be so much variety, too: coconut cream, lemon meringue, apple, and cheesecake just to name a few. There are still a few of these wonderful old diners left, but as buildings get renovated the interiors get ripped out. Or, worse yet, new buildings replace the old and these great diners are gone forever. Have a look at these classic diners below and relive a little slice of the past.
The Majestic Restaurant in 1933. Via/ Flickr
The Majestic Restaurant in 1933. Via/ Flickr
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Who can forget the linoleum floors and the jukebox? Many an afternoon was spent in diners like these, sipping milkshakes and munching on fries.
Mr. B’s Hamburgers, 1954. Via/ Flickr
Coney Island diner, 1966. Via/ Flickr
Melrose Diner, 1980. Via/ Library of Congress
Bay and Night Diner. Via/ Library of Congress
Bay and Night Diner. Via/ Library of Congress
Bay and Night Diner. Via/ Library of Congress
Modern Diner, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, 1980. Via/ Library of Congress
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Bull’s Head Inn Restaurant. Via/ NYPL
It used to be that even the smallest town had a diner, most likely with a long bar and waitresses in uniform, probably with a checkered floor, too. Now more the exception than the rule, we can only hope that the classic diners we still will stay open for years to come.
Carnival Restaurant, 1954. Via/ Flickr
Carnival Restaurant, 1954. Via/ Flickr
Diner sign. Via/ Flickr
White Crystal Diner. Via/ Library of Congress
The Diner’s Rendezvous 1950s. Via/ Flickr
Andy’s Diner, 1956. Via/ Flickr
Coffee Pot Restaurant. Via/ Library of Congress
Highway diner, 1940. Via/ Library of Congress
1955 diner. Via/ Flickr
Nicholas Diner, 1994. Via/ Library of Congress
Hopefully there’s a diner near you that still has that classic feeling. It’s nice to look at pictures, but so much nicer to sip coffee inside your favorite diner.
