The Diner Project – The classic diner is a unique American creation that embodies many of the themes of the American experience. They are symbols of entrepreneurship – offering the promise to immigrants and blue collar workers that by buying and running a diner they could own their own businesses and be their own boss. They are symbols of an era marked by optimism for the future, with diners clad in sleek art deco-style stainless steel exteriors, roadside messages of futuristic style and design. They show us the growing role of women in public society, as the signs for “booth service” let women know that they were welcome at this diner, where the booth seating was “more appropriate” than stools at the counter for women and families. And one more reason to photograph diners – a person has to eat while on a walkabout. To visit this gallery click on Diners.
Deluxe Town (Watertown, MA) – This gorgeous diner was built on site in 1947. It features a classic steel-clad exterior, and both the exterior and interior feature an art deco-inspired look. The full gallery is at Deluxe Town Diner.
Boulevard (Worcester, MA) – This diner is Worcester Lunch Car Company No. 730, from 1937, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It still has the original oak and gumwood interior, and the ambiance is authentic – no Elvis kitch here. The full gallery is at Boulevard Diner.
Casey’s (Natick, MA) – This diner is owned and operated by the fourth generation of the same family that has owned Casey’s Diner since 1887, when it was a four-stool, horse-drawn diner car. Pat’s great-grandfather purchased this diner in 1926. It is one of the smallest Worcester Lunch Car diners – only 10½ feet wide and 20½ feet long with ten stools and no booths, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Casey’s doesn’t serve breakfast or dinner – but it has a well-deserved reputation for its excellent hot dogs. I was sitting at the counter one day when a fellow, clearly down on his luck, walked up to the side window to buy a hot dog. As he counted out his change, it was clear that a hot dog was going to take the last of his money. Pat put two on the plate and told him to pay another day when he had the money. Grandpa would be proud of his boy. The full gallery is at Casey’s Diner.
Rosebud (Somerville, MA) – The full bar in place of the behind-the-counter grill and kitchen area is a bit jarring to diner purists, but the neighborhood atmosphere and classic diner food help to re-establish the credentials of the Rosebud. This is Worcester Lunch Car Company No. 773. This streamlined-style diner car was built in 1941, converted to a bar/lounge in 1957, converted to a Tex-Mex restaurant in the early 1990s, and restored to a diner in the late 1990s. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The full gallery is at Rosebud Diner.
Wilson’s (Waltham, MA) – A classic Greek immigrant-owned diner. The diner, built in 1949, earned its listing in the National Register of Historic Places with its classic blue and white look of mid-range Worcester Lunch Car Company diners (this one is No. 819). Arthur oversees his empire from the grill, and has a big, friendly greeting for all the customers. The full gallery is at Wilson’s Diner.
Joe’s (Lee, MA) – Unlike all the other diners photographed as part of the Diner Project, Joe’s is not in a stand-alone building, nor does it have the graceful exterior of the classic diners. This is a storefront in building that houses a bunch of retail shops. But it was the site for Norman Rockwell’s iconic Saturday Evening Post cover, “The Runaway” and so it deserves a place in The Diner Project. The full gallery is at Joe’s Diner in Lee.
Joe’s (Taunton, MA) – This is a 1940 Sterling diner car. Its story is a good example of the diner tales. It was originally installed in Everett and known as Ingram's Diner. It was sold and renamed Low Bridge Diner, and then sold again and renamed Diane’s Diner. It was closed in the early 1980s and moved onto a storage lot. After that, it was purchased, renovated, renamed Joe’s Diner, and moved to Taunton around 1986. One of the current owners is the daughter of the couple that bought the diner and moved it to Taunton; the diner is named for her grandfather, who helped her parents buy the diner. The full gallery is at Joe’s Diner in Taunton.
Miss Florence (Northampton, MA) – The Florence Diner is like the bar in "Cheers" without the liquor license - everybody knows your name. This is a genuine neighborhood diner with friendly waitresses, and it even offers Cherry Coke. The Miss Florence Diner is Worcester Lunch Car Company No. 775, built in 1941, authentically renovated in 2002 (no Elvis kitsch here!), and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The full gallery is at Miss Florence Diner.
The Breakfast Club (Boston, MA) – This Worcester Lunch Car Company diner dates back to 1954. It was originally known as Fahey’s Diner, then Ted’s Diner, then Henry’s Diner; it was renamed The Breakfast Club after its renovation in 2002. They serve excellent breakfasts here. Of course. The full gallery is at Breakfast Club Diner.
Salem Diner (Salem, MA) – This is an unusual “streamliner” diner with a stainless steel and porcelain exterior, barrel roof, small tile floor, and one cornerless, rounded end. In 1941, this art-deco inspired look was the look of the future. The beauty and authenticity of the interior have not been marred by renovations. This Worcester Lunch Car Company Diner (No. 41006), is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Salem Diner features basic diner food at diner prices, all served with a smile by Zoe, combination co-owner and waitress. The full gallery is at Salem Diner.
Central (Millbury, MA) – This is a Worcester Lunch Car Company diner, built in 1930. It is the opportunity to see the look of the low-end WLCC diner – no booths, a sink in the corner, and not much renovation. But Central has a great breakfast and a friendly staff. The full gallery is at Central Diner.
Kathy’s (Northampton, MA) – Kathy’s is held together by good breakfasts and a supportive community that loves the owner and her place for its music and ambiance. It is a classic monitor-roofed Worcester Lunch Car Company diner (No. 702), built in 1932, and its heritage has not been sullied by updating or renovation. The full gallery is at Kathy’s Diner.
Aero (North Windham, CT) – One of only two Bramson diners still operating, the Aero has a gorgeous neon sign and was featured on HGTV. The full gallery is at Aero Diner.
Agawam (Rowley, MA) – The diner, well-known in the region, is a Fedoro diner that was built in 1954 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The full gallery is at Agawam Diner.
Olympia (Newington, CT) - Huge neon signs, a sleek stainless steel exterior, the best breakfast in town, and jukeboxes at each booth that offer the range of music from Elvis to Bob Marley and Lady Gaga make this a diner a winner. The full gallery is at Olympia Diner.
Kelly’s (Somerville, MA) – This is a classic neighborhood diner where the waitresses still use a cash drawer instead of a register and patrons sit at the counter reading The Boston Herald. Kelly’s is a two-section O’Mahoney diner, with a separate kitchen instead of a grill behind the counter. It was built in 1947 and relocated to this site in 1996. The full gallery is at Kelly’s Diner.
Miss Mendon (Mendon, MA) – This diner, Worcester Lunch Car Company No. 823, has been painstakingly and lovingly restored, except for the dissonant and jarring presence of several flat panel television screens in the main dining area. The diner, reopened in 2010, features classic diner food well-executed and updated without being too trendy (there is no such thing as “nouvelle diner cuisine”), and a staff that genuinely enjoys working in an historic setting. The full gallery is at Miss Mendon Diner.
The Lunch Box (Malden, MA) – A small diner that is big in its quality, big in its portions, and even bigger in the heart and graciousness of Nick, the owner and cook. The bright red building, built in 1932, sits in an industrial/business section of Malden. The full gallery is at The Lunch Box Diner.
Red Hook Historic (Rhinebeck, NY) – This Silk City-style diner was built by The Patterson Vehicle Company in the 1920s. Moved several times to adapt to changing travel patterns, the history of the diner also recalls the growth and development of the regional transportation system during the early automobile age. The full gallery is at Red Hook Diner.