The Georgetown Theatre

The Cellar Door

Paul’s Liquors

A-Frame IHOP

Kennedy Theater: Only the facade remains, with a new building built behind.

Air-Way VIP Room

Abner ‘Sam’ Sampson, D.C. businessman, dies at 78
By Hamil Harris, Published: June 4

Abner “Sam” Sampson, a vacuum cleaner salesman who rose to own a vacuum cleaner franchise and a nightclub, Washington’s “Air-Way VIP Room,” died May 23 of bone cancer at his home in Washington. He was 78.

Mr. Sampson sold Air-Way vacuum cleaners in the District from the 1960s until 2004 and was named Air-Way Salesman of the Year more than once. He sold door-to-door for years and met his future wife on one particularly fortunate house call. In 1978, he purchased an Air-Way franchise in Washington.

In addition to thriving in the vacuum cleaner business, Mr. Sampson expanded his service to selling carpet, drapes and rental properties. In 1978, he opened the Air-Way VIP Room, a banquet hall for birthday parties, anniversary celebrations and church functions. Both the VIP room and the vacuum business closed in 2004.

Phil’s Colonial Bar

I was sent this photo by Rick Smith of http://www.bpinorthavenue.atspace.com/

This storefront Little Tavern was located at 1 East North Avenue, Baltimore, MD
The opposite corner was once home to a similarly styled White Tower.

You can make out in the White Tower photo part of the sign of the Little Tavern reading “Hamburgers”

Here’s another photo of this location, from 1960s Little Tavern company documents.

Unfortunately, it’s just a quick out-the-window shot. With the way the median in the road was, it would have been a pain to turn around to get a better shot. That road design probably isn’t the best for their business, either. Anyhow- the Essex Diner is a 1993 Starlite, formerly known as Mr. D’s Diner, the Starlight Diner, Casa Luna and I believe a few others. During its Italian or Mexican phase, the diner was unfortunately remodeled.

And here’s a shot of the “other” Essex Diner, closed in 1977, destroyed by arson in 1980.

A much better exterior shot

What a huge loss. This was the highlight of my Tamaqua area diner tour. Amazing food, interesting building and some of the absolute nicest folks out there running the place.

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Pictures from my visit

I got a half dozen burgers at the former Little Tavern in Laurel, MD today. Delicious.

Other than last week, this is the first I’ve been in the place since it was gutted and redone.

Overbrook Cafe- York, PA

Take a look at the “Food” neon sign. On the left hand side of the sign, the tubing alternately reads “good” and “food”. The remains of the broken “G” are still visible on the right hand side of the sign. The restaurant itself isn’t much to look like anymore- mansard roof, faux-tudor upper band and brick lower band. Apparently, the Cafe has been around since at least the 1940s.

Print-o-stat – York, PA
This is the corporate headquarters of the printostat company. Great plastic and metal tower sign.

Snow Palace- York, PA
Nice older 3-D sign. Probably originally neon.

Bill Boring – York, PA
Photos on Flickr show this neon still works.

Cold Cases – York, PA

Coach Light Family Restaurant – Shrewsbury, PA

Mason Dixon Oil Company, Emmitsburg, MD
Not so much the signage, but an interesting conglomeration of buildings.

The Mountain Shadows Restaurant is a rare Master built diner. It was built c.1950, and has been owned by Mike and Travis since 1981. A picture of them, c.1981, graces the front of the vestibule.

The diner has a brick kitchen addition and dining room addition. A roof has been added later on, which, though it doesn’t obscure any of the facade of the diner itself, drastically changes the look of the place.

Blue transom windows. Old metal awnings.

The owner of the diner.

Inside, the diner is pretty original. The booths have been replaced and the counter re-done.

Really nice stainless work by the menu board. I particularly like the blue flex-glas surrounds to the menus. These diners have a distinctive roofline.

Replacement brown formica and brown tilework

Open faced breaded Veal, mashed potatoes, applesauce, dinner roll and a pepsi.

14954 Buchanon Tr E/Rte 16, Blue Ridge Summit, PA

Maine’s Oldest Diner- The Palace Diner, a c.1926 Pollard. One of only two Pollards that still exist.

Blueberry pancakes. Deliciously buttery, with a nice crisp to the outside. Something you can only get from a good diner grill, by a good grillman.

The Pollard diner tag.

Manufactured by Hedlund Food Service Equipment, Worcester, MA.
I can’t find any other record of Hedlund apart from the tag. Take a look at the photo after the one of me sitting at the counter. Hedlund did beautiful metalwork.

Early morning at the diner. Really great coffee. The counter has the marks of years of elbows, years of coffee cups. The ghosts of thousands of patrons. There’s less wear at the ends of the diner, more wear towards the griddle. Everyone wants to watch the show.

Great backbar.

Behind the counter- the men responsible for making this one of my top 10 diners.

A shot of the Palace Diner in the factory, located at 463 Chelmsford St., Lowell, MA.
Note the original panels and the original smaller windows. These were swapped out for larger windows and the current paint scheme you see today.

They’re located at
18 Franklin St
Biddeford, ME 04005

and check out their website.

As mentioned in an earlier post, the Yankee Diner, of Charlton, MA, has reopened.
They’re open breakfast and lunch and are really doing it right. With great food, made fresh (As they state, “not from a can”), they’ve already built up a group of “regulars”, and it’s no wonder. And you can’t beat the prices or the service. Thrown in a great old Worcester diner, and you have all the elements of the perfect diner experience.

Biscuits and gravy. Great homemade gravy, heavy on the sausage, just the way I like it.

Check them out, at
16 Worcester Rd
Charlton, MA 01507

It’s a stop worth the drive!