Five Star Pizza, located at 982-976 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT, is at the former site of the Fountain Diner, which dates back to at least the early 1940s. The proportions and window/vestibule placement are correct for this being a renovation of the Fountain, but I find the way it sits to be suspect, just not many diners of the era this would seem to be without steps up to the vestibule.

It’s amazing how many diners there were at one time. Here’s a sampling from a directory of Bridgeport CT from 1942. Likely, some of these were storefront greasy spoons, and probably some of the “luncheonettes”, “grills”, and “lunches” in town were factory built. Looking through on google maps, the vast majority of these are now small vacant lots.

Barnum Diner – 2445 Barnum Ave.
Bell Diner – 360 John
Blue Clipper Diner – 391 Fairfield Ave
Bridgeport Flyer 1726 Fairfield Ave (1941 sterling streamliner, replaced in 1960s with a Swingle. Demolished 2008. Read more)
Bud’s Diner – 1052 North Ave
Charlie’s Diner- 2016 Fairfield Ave
East End Diner 1144 Stratford Ave
Fountain Diner – 982 Park Ave (extensively remodeled, now Five Star Pizza)
Frankie’s Diner – 1660 Barnum Ave (Silk City, replaced by a DeRaffele)
Green Comet Diner – 90 Kings Highway Cutoff (later became the Fairfield Diner (1980s)(2010))
Harry’s Diner – 605 North Ave
Jack’s Diner – 2321 Main St. (replaced by a Swingle, now New Colony Diner II)
Mac’s Diner – 1025 Barnum Ave.
Madison Diner – 716 Madison Ave.
Marge’s Diner – 1860 Barnum Ave.
Matty’s Diner – 631 Fairfield Ave
North End Diner – 700 North Ave.
Popular Diner – 1381 Stratford Ave.
The S Diner – 767 State Street
S&S Diner – 316 State Street
Slim’s Diner – 372 State Street
State Diner – 1075 State Street
Steve’s Diner – 2992 Fairfield Ave.
Stiles Diner – 1205 Barnum Ave.
Terminal Diner – 593 Post Road

This was the site of the Silver Empire Lunch Wagon going back into the 1910s. Whatever is there now is surely a replacement, but still of pretty early manufacture going by the dimensions. Despite old renovations obliterating every trace of the diner itself on the exterior, the foundation and stairs, combined with decades of directories showing diners at this site make me fairly confident there’s something lurking under all that stucco.

Located at the southern corner of Mt. Vernon Ave. and S. West Street, Mt. Vernon, New York.

It’s such a rare and wonderful thing when remodeling is done right. Cousin’s is undergoing some work, modernizing the kitchen and bringing that up to code, but everything up front is being cleaned, restored and fixed, leaving the diner’s charm and vintage appeal thoroughly in-tact.

I’d like to extend a hearty “Thank You” for being the refreshing exception in today’s culture of demolition and to wish Cousin’s Snack Bar the best of luck in the years to come.

Cousin’s is located at 2389 Agricola St, B3K4B8 Halifax, NS, Canada.

Advertising postcard mailed 1945. Back reads:
Duparquet Inc.
225-235 N. Racine Avenue
Chicago 7, Illinois
Our 90 years experience should qualify us to help you and our Engineering Department will be placed at your disposal for the proper planning of all types of food preparation and serving equipment if requested. – L.A. Florreich

It was mailed to the manager of the Finlen Hotel, Butte, MT. I wonder if the got the job?