Diners - An American Icon

By Barbara Wangelid


The definition of a diner is     years until the advent of the
typically a narrow structure     fast food restaurants.        
resembling a railroad dining                                   
car with the interior            Since 1970, there has been a  
containing a service counter     new interest in diners with   
with stools for seating. Food    it's retro appearance and many
preparation is along the back    can be seen and visited       
wall behind the counter.         across America.               
                                                               
History                          Today                         
                                                               
The first diners back in         Denny's introduced their new  
the 1890's were horse drawn      retro style Denny's Classic   
wagons on wheels that would      Diner restaurants in 1999     
park on the city streets and     complete with stainless steel
serve their meals similar to     exterior and rounded roof.    
today's fast food concept.                                     
                                 There are currently 18 diner  
By the 1920's, diners were       manufacturers with half of    
manufactured as a permanent      them located in New Jersey. No
structure resembling the         other state in America can    
original wagon style. The        top the number of diners than
style changed into a more        New Jersey with over 200      
streamlined appearance by the    diners in operation today!    
1930's but business was not                                    
brisk until after the            If you are interested in      
depression.                      learning more about the       
                                 history of diners, you may    
The demand increased after       wish to visit dinermuseum.org
1945 and spread to the midwest   and a trip to New Jersey      
when there were a dozen diner    should satisfy your appetite  
manufacturers making the         with many styles of today's   
diners with many modern          diners.                       
amenities including air                                        
conditioning, stainless steel                                  
exteriors and large windows.                                   
This surge lasted about 15       

About the author:
Barbara Wangelid along with her husband Tobbe are the owners of http://www.JackandFriends.comwhere you can purchase vintage and retro reproduction tin signs, enamelware, antique labels, classic American pedal cars and more.


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