It’s a bit hard to tell, but under all the red siding is a 1930s Worcester car. Not much left original to the interior either, but still really has the vibe.
The Brunswick Diner- Brunswick, Maine
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Category Archives: Diners / roadside related
Old stuff in Maine
Ho! Ho! Ho! It’s August!
The oldest street sweeper I’ve ever seen. Any idea as to the make? Kind of looks like a Chevy to me.
Signage at Leighton’s store
Maine Country Music Hall of Fame
Rambler
Goldstar Diner Restaurant- Aberdeen MD
This appears to be under new management and now operates under the name the Golden Diner Restaurant. Last I was there it was 
Here’s a shot from several years back of the interior.
from Randy Garbin of the interior as it looks now. Really a shame.
The New Ideal Diner
From a 1953 article:
The New Ideal Diner in Aberdeen, Maryland, located on Route 40, a broad four lane highway that connects Baltimore with the New Jersey Turnpike, is a good example. Sparkling and clean, its counter and comfortable booths can accommodate 102. Its menu caters to a wide range of eating tastes.
On the average day, you will find chauffeured limousines sharing its parking space with jeeps, hot rods and station wagons. You might even bump into Maryland’s Governor Theodore McKeldin, Jr. It is one of his favorite stopping-off places when he is traveling on the road.
The New Ideal’s owners, Steve Karas, Jr., and his uncle, Pete Mikes, paid O’Mahony’s $105,000 for it. They could have spent as little as $30,000 for a smaller unit, or as much as $150,000 for a larger one.
Donut Dinette
Here’s a small southern chain, a few of the buildings are still around and recognizable, though most have by this point been torn down. I haven’t thought about these in two years, but was generously reminded this evening so I thought I’d put up these archival photos, taken by Michael G. Stewart , mostly in the 1970s and 1980s.
For more info on their history and for other locations, check out the Roadsidenut website, the incredible work of Debra Jane Seltzer.
The Falls Church, Virginia Location, operating as George’s Diner / George’s Deli
And more recently as Victor’s Grill
The Front Royal, VA location as the Do-Nut Diner
The Front Royal location c. 2003 as the Fox Diner (since torn down). I submitted photos of this one to Zippy the Pinhead the first time I was there. A few years later I returned and there was a local news story hanging on the wall with a very angry tone to the effect of “what is this strange comic strip and how did they find us- why won’t they leave us alone!” It was all very funny. The owners when it was the fox made it one of the best diners in the region (even if it isn’t a true diner). The owners from before it was torn down gave it all the atmosphere and charm of a McDonalds. They didn’t get what they had and didn’t seem to get the area or their customers.
And though I don’t have super old photos of this one, here is a shot of the Winchester, VA location, which, when the photo was taken, had the signage from the Donut Castle up, though it had been bought and was operating at the Seoul Garden Cafe. It is now the North Loudoun Diner.
Patent Art
Archival postcard of a Donut Dinette.
Bethesda Tastee
This one’s a 1930s O’Mahony. I took my early ’40s O’Mahony catalog, which is probably similar to what the original owners selected from.
If you look under the awnings on the outside, the trapezoidal stained glass windows (see the original promotional picture and paintings of the diner) are still visible. Inside, they have been covered with woodwork, apparently some time ago. The diner suffered a fire a couple years ago. Photos of the damage line the two dining room wings. The dining rooms very nearly match the floor tile of the diner as well as its character.
Tastee in the ’70s before all the clutter.
Painting in the Tastee of the Tastee in the 1940s.
Post-awning
Advertisement in the post upon opening.
Promotional material from O’Mahony.
Interior
Tilework
Syrup
Overall shot
And here’s our waitress, a veteran of the diner of 23 years. One of my all time favorite diner waitresses.
Silver Diner No. 1
Here’s another trip to the Rockville Silver Diner, one of the first retro styled diners in the country. For more than 20 years it has been the flagship of the Silver Diner chain. In a little while it will be demolished.
A shot in bad weather showing the neon.
A better day. Since it opened, the doors were moved from the front of the vestibule and moved to a bump out of the vestibule to the right. A dining room addition was pushed out to the right side of the diner, and corner pieces were added.
Glass brick. Note that the stainless work by the moved doors doesn’t match that done by Kullman.
Later corners.
Ceiling detail in the dining room addition.
Light fixture.
Jukebox and Silver Diner ketchup
As of a couple of years ago, the diner had late ’80s CD jukeboxes.
Randy Garbin of roadsideonline.com
Out front
The Streamliner Diner- Fairfax, VA
An old photo, by my dad, Michael G. Stewart, of Bob’s Diner, Fairfax, VA
The diner was originally known as the Streamliner Diner. It changed its name to Bob’s Diner, named after its second owner, Bob Parcelles, who had run the 29 diner in 1952. A large addition was added to Bob’s in the 1970s and the name changed to Bob’s Beef House. It went out of business in 1985, was remodeled and reopened as Mama’s Italian Restaurant.
As it appears now.
9715 Lee Highway
Fairfax, VA 22031
A 1955 Postcard.
Text:
Streamliner Restaurant, U.S. Routes 50-29-211 – 1/2 block west of Fairfax Circle, Fairfax, Virginia. Distinctively different food. Open 24 hours – air conditioned. Owned and operated by: Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Parcelle
Another Postcard:
Streamliner diner-restaurant and Bob’s Beef House. Quality foods – banquet and party facilities. Open 24 hours. Robert J. (Bob) Parcelles. Phone 273-0221.
9715 Lee Highway, Fairfax, Virginia 22030.
The Prospect Diner
Though the neon is now gone, the Prospect Diner is better than ever. Great food, low low prices and a great diner atmosphere. This is one of my favorite ’50s diner designs. It’s transitional, not quite space age- not yet, but man does it ever look cool.
I had scrambled eggs, corned beef hash, homefries and toast. The home fries and hash were great; nice and crusty without being burnt, just they should be. The coffee was fresh and refills came fast.
Premise Maid Ice Cream
This place is home to a huge selection of homemade ice cream and huge scoops (as you can see). I had blueberry pie ice cream, with chunks of flaky crust in it, and a scoop of chocolate ice cream with marshmallows. It was a difficult decision.
Diner Hunter 