Above, the interior of the Cheyenne Diner, Manhattan. Love the Marilyn photo and the buffalo head nickels.
My mother used to love getting lunch now and then at D'errico's on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, Massachusetts. She and my Dad knew Gerry D'errico and would chat it up with him during each visit. I remember going there once for lunch and I ate only a meatball, nothing more. It was the size of a basketball, I swear, made by hand and piping hot and covered in red sauce. There were, I think, three tables in the place. It was a market, a deli, and a hang-out. Mom often ordered ahead by phone and then stopped by on the way home from work to pick up her order.
This above is from Los Angeles, not far from Sunset.
This detail above, the door handle, isn't anything special, but it's what stirs my interest in diners as reflections of architectural history. Back before built-in obsolescence when nearly everything was made in the hope that it would last.
The two above are from Providence, Rhode Island.
The lower one, New York System, is a hot dog joint in Olneyville. It may still be there.
The upper one, the Weiners sign, is from a joint long gone.
Here's a one locally owned place that I was fortunate enough to enjoy a while before it served its last customer. This was in Charlottesville, Virginia, an institution for working folks for a long, long time. They used potato flour in their doughnut recipe, I believe, hence the name Spudnuts. It made such a difference, such an improvement in how they tasted. And they were baked fresh each day.
Above, from Providence, this is long gone. Probably some Vegan piece of heaven now.
This shot of La Belle Vie was taken in Mahnattan pre 9-11. Not sure if it's still around.
I used to drink sometimes in Madigans, Again with my friend George Gomes. He was big on the darts tournaments there, too. This dive is history, long gone, disappearing when the city of Worcester expanded its connection between Highway 290 and Route 146, wiping out an entire region of the city but making it very easy for cars to speed north or south between Worcester and Providence. All about the cars in American cities, isn't it?
I used to get barbecue at Lil Jakes now and then. It was located in The Bottoms of Kansas City when I was living there. I don't know if it's still around. I doubt it.
The Old Colony is from Provincetown, MA.
Nunzi's above in Worcester was levelled when they expanded the 290 Expressway exchange, linking it to wider, faster Rouite 146 to Providence and the Mohegan Sun Casino. All of that neighborhood was obliterated in the name of progress.
Above, the Lobster Pot again.
Below, The Royal Lunch vanished with much of downtown Providence when it became a college campuse and overpriced condo blocks and a shopping mall bifurcated by an expanded freeways running faster, wider and louder through what used to be its more interesting neighborhoods.
The Parkway on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA. Drink Polar, a local beverage.
Lil Jakes again in The KC Bottoms. Can't wrong in Kansas City when it comes to barbecue.
The Boulevard Diner on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA. Another iconic diner, though I never thought the food was all that great. Maybe it's still there. Hope so. Love the clock. Love how it looks at night, too. I heard a rumor once that a Japanese millionaire wanted to buy the place and have it dismantled and shipped piece by piece to be rebuilt in Japan. I don't think that ever happened. It's a good rumor, though.
Bright Food Shop in Lower Manhattan. Probably a cellphone store now, or a vape shop, or maybe a tatoo parlor.
The Central Diner in the center of little Millbury, Massachusetts. It's Christmas time, note the pine bough wreaths.
These shots above and below are of the State Line diner on the border between Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Below is Charlies Diner in Worcester, MA. It was on its last legs during the time I shot it. May be gone by now.
Cindy's is in Foster, Rhose Island, I believe. On Route 44. I never had a bad meal there. Never left there hungry either. Not sure it's still there.
Coney Island Hot Dogs below was on Southbridge Street in Worcester, MA. It may still be there. I used to love going there for a hot dog and a bottle of beer. I'd then catch a bus to Boston from what in those days was called the Seven Hills Plaza a block away.
The Formosa Cafe in Los Angeles was one of Humphrey Bogart's favorite places to drink at. All sorts of urban legends, none of them true, have been attached to the place.
Above, the Empire Diner in Manhattan. Probably still there. Iconic.
The Edgemere in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Loved going there. Used to be an Edgemere Drive In nearby too, which is now the sight of a massive Home Depot, I believe. Not sure if the diner is still around.
D'errico's again.
Nisos, and the Galaxy Diner, Greek-owned places in Manhattan at the time. Really good food. Not sure it's still there.
Interior above of the Seaplane Diner in Providence, Rhode Island. The on-counter jukebox, the curved bank of stools, color-cordinated. Gotta love it.
This I recall as The Silvertop Diner in Providence, Rhode Island. I remember seeing a posted warning on its door that there'd be problems for anyone daring to photograph the place. Why? I ate there a few times, late at night to sober up and I recall the food was just okay. For years, I couldn't wait to return to photograph it, in spite of the warning. I'm not sure it's still there. Probably not.
The Miss Worcester under the old P and W Railroad Bridge off Southbridge Street in Worcester. A tiny place, as vintage as they come. One of the originals and situated across the street from where diners as eating establishments were invented. A nice bit of history for Worcester.
The Seaplane, above, in color. Love those yellow booth cushions.
Yes, booth service. The Miss Worcester, above, in color.
The Seaplane Diner, above, in color.
The Modern Diner in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. A classic. Still there, I believe. About the best thing Pawtucket has going for it ever since they lost their Triple A pro baseball team.
Above, a landmark in Olneyville, a neighborhood in Providence, Rhode Island. I remember this joint served tasty and cheap hot dogs and was open late every night. I hope it's still there.
I used to go in there for a glass of chianti and some Italian music and maybe a plate of pasta. Good memories.
In 2000, the musician Martin Sexton released an album called Wonder Bar. Based on this place, I believe. The album cover is below.
The Silvertop Diner again, below.
Below, the Cheyenne Diner in Manhattan, exterior and interior.
Above, Spudnuts, as it was known then in Charlottesville, VA. They served a special and very popular kind of doughnut. RIP.
The Oki Dog, above, in Los Angeles. This can be seen in a lot of LA-based movies. Not sure it's still there.
The Triangle in Winchester, Virginia, native town of one Patsy Cline, who I love to hear sing. It was during a week-long road trip from Virginia to Ohio that I drove past. I wanted to go in, but it was closed. I'm all for chrome and a stacked sandwich, whatever that means. In a state like Virginia you don't see a lot of these chrome cars built in the 40's.
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