Dyne Quik (Gone)
Wichita, KS
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

The Dyne Quik in north-central Wichita was reportedly among the few Valentine-manufactured diners still serving meals when photographed. Its compact building and vintage sign offered a straightforward invitation to stop for a quick bite.

The restaurant continued operating for several more years before closing sometime after 2011.

UPDATE: The property is vacant and boarded up, and the roadside sign has been removed. Its current whereabouts remain unconfirmed. 06-26

Mickey's Diner
St. Paul, MN
Photo courtesy Barry Kazmer

Take a look at the most famous diner in Minnesota. Mickey’s Diner has been a staple of the St. Paul area since it opened in the Capitol 60 years ago. It is still open 24 hours a day and it is very inexpensive to eat there but the parking is limited to 30 minutes during regular daytime business hours. So eat fast, in real diner style!

Mickey's is even on the National Register of Historic Places, and is supposedly one of only two diners to be on the list. Its image has been reproduced many times in post cards and calendars and many other ways. It was built in 1937 in New Jersey and shipped to St. Paul by flatbed truck.

The inside is as authentic as the outside. You can sit on a backless stool at the counter and watch and smell and sometimes feel the burgers sizzling on the grill. But there are some small booths at the right end of the diner. The food is pure diner fare and not noted for its heart healthy food Many thanks to Barry Kazmer for above photo and info. 02-03

UPDATE: After a lengthy closure that began during the COVID era, Mickey's Diner reopened in 2024 and once again serves customers from its historic downtown location. The classic dining car remains standing, the iconic neon signage continues to glow, and the landmark remains one of the most celebrated diners in the Midwest. 06-26

Metro Diner (Demolished)
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Metro Diner looked ready for a 1950s postcard, but this Tulsa Route 66 stop opened in 1984. An older Skelly station became a retro diner filled with chrome, neon, glass blocks and automotive touches. 01-07

Beside the University of Tulsa on 11th Street, it attracted students, highway travelers and car enthusiasts. It wasn’t an original mid-century diner, but it certainly dressed for the part.

The Metro closed on November 26, 2006, for redevelopment associated with a new university entrance. The building was subsequently demolished.

UPDATE: The Metro Diner has been demolished due to the expansion of the Tulsa University campus. Many thanks to Cathie Miller for update. 04-08

UPDATE: The Metro Diner building was demolished shortly after closing, and the site has since been redeveloped. Fortunately, the restaurant's iconic neon sign was saved and relocated to Tulsa's Stokely Event Center, where it remains preserved today. 06-26