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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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.
NE trip
The wireless I’ve found here in the woods by Sabbathday lake here in Gray/ New Gloucester, Maine is dicey to put it lightly, so I can’t upload my usual millions of photos. I may have internet by friday so I’ll put up the full story then.
Yesterday we hit the New Ideal Diner, the former Aberdeen Eagle (need to check what the new name is), the Sandy Hook in CT, the Blue Colony, Rajun Cajun in CT, and met up with Larry Cultrera of Diner Hotline fame for dinner. Today I made a stop at Cole Farms and had some red hots and fresh corn on the cob for dinner with a beautiful view of the lake.
Here’s a shot from yesterday.
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.
Hollywood Diner
This one is attached to a shopping center, but does sport a diner tag.
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
Lee’s Diner- Fairfax, VA
And while we’re on it, how about Lee’s Diner.
Lee’s when it opened. Cowcatcher Mountain View.
Route 211, 50 and 29, Fairfax, Va. Text on back: Lee’s Diner. Stop for Skyline Drive Road information. Where good food reigns supreme. Open 24 hours. Phone Fairfax 485J. Under management of Mr. and Mrs. Ben B. Simpson.
The 29 Diner
Routes 29-211-50 — Junction of 123 & 211, Fairfax, Virginia. Text on back: 29 Diner, the gateway to the Skyline Drive, on routes 29-211-50, Junction of 123 & 211, Fairfax, Virginia. Open 24 hours — completely air-conditioned. Specialists in good food. Owned and operated by: R. J. Parcelles.
The new Lee’s
Lee’s Diner: Rt. 211 and 50, Fairfax, Virginia. Specializing in home-cooked meals, seafood, steaks, and chops. Owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Ben B. Simpson.
Lee’s Diner. Rt. 211 and 50, Fairfax, Virginia. Specializing in home-cooked meals, steaks and chops. Owned and operated by Mickey & Lee Gray.
Lee’s Diner. Rt. 211 and 50, Fairfax, Virginia. Specializing in home-cooked meals, steaks and chops. Owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Ben. B. Simpson. Phone Crescent 3-9844.
Then there was the Vincent Diner, an older Monitor Roof model. The Fairfax Blvd. Master Plan says” Vincent’s Diner, constructed
in 1952 is one of the most significant and revered historic landmarks”. Doesn’t look 1952 to me.
Diner Hunter 