Orange Diner (Closed)
Ashland, OH
Photo courtesy Mike Engle

Orange Diner certainly lives up to its nickname. Painted bright orange with black trim, it's one of those buildings that's almost impossible to drive past without wondering what the story is. The colorful paint job fits right in with Ashland's reputation for bright storefronts and makes this little diner stand out from everything around it. 07-08

Despite the nickname, the building was never actually called the Orange Diner. Over the years it operated under names like Sherrick's Diner and Peg's Diner before closing as a restaurant around 1971. The orange paint came much later when the building became home to a motorcycle repair shop, which chose the colors to match the Harley-Davidson theme.

Even though it hasn't served a meal in decades, the little diner building has managed to survive through several different uses. It's always nice to see an old diner reused instead of torn down, even if it no longer serves burgers and coffee.

Orange Diner
Ashland, OR
Photo courtesy Terry Darakis

UPDATE: The" Orange Diner" hasn't been in business as a diner since about 1971. The picture here is from when a business was in there called V-Tech, which was a Harley Motorcycle repair shop, hence the Orange and Black color scheme. And it was never known as the Orange Diner. It has been called The Diner, Sherrick's Diner and Peg's Diner. V-Tech moved about 2-3 years ago. It is now a second hand store called The Treasure Chest. I would like to restore it to a diner some day but it needs tons of work. Many thanks to Rich & Wendy Myers, Owner's of The Treasure Chest for this update. 03-05

UPDATE: The Orange Diner still looks to be in fairly good repair, and someone is looking after it with a new coat of paint. It would be wonderful if someone would restore it. Photo taken February 8, 2008. Many thanks to Terry Darakis for photo and update. 02-08

UPDATE: The former diner building still survives, although it has not operated as a restaurant since the early 1970s. The original diner signage is gone, and the "Orange Diner" name was never an official part of its history. 06-26

Brownies Diner (Demolished)
Wayne, MI
Photo and info courtesy Jay Lin

You can find Ford assembly line workers chowing down after their shifts at Brownies Diner in Wayne, Michigan. At the very least, you can't miss the huge arrow on this fine looking sign.

Brownies Diner was the kind of place you could spot from a block away thanks to its giant neon arrow pointing the way inside. Located along Michigan Avenue in Wayne, it was a longtime favorite for Ford assembly workers looking for a good meal after their shift. The sign alone was enough to make you hit the brakes for a closer look. 04-09

The diner got its start in 1940 and quickly became a local institution, serving affordable breakfasts, burgers, and other comfort food for generations of customers. Although the building eventually evolved into a brick storefront, it originally began life in a streamlined railroad dining car, adding another interesting chapter to its history.

Sadly, Brownies closed around 2010 and sat vacant for years before the building was demolished in 2023. The giant arrow and vintage marquee disappeared along with it, leaving old photos like this as a reminder of one of Wayne's classic roadside diners.

UPDATE: Brownie's Diner is in Wayne Michigan. it is not a freestanding diner like a Paramount or Kullman though. Many thanks to Cara Barillas for this update. 07-07

UPDATE: Below are a couple of new photos of Brownies Diner in Wayne, MI. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for this update. 02-08

UPDATE: Brownie’s Diner opened in 1937 by Brownie himself but sold to the present owner in the 1970’s. Ford Motor has three plants in the town. The help is friendly and the breakfast fare is delicious. Many thanks to Greg Stachura for this update. 03-08

UPDATE: Brownies Diner permanently closed around 2010, and the building was demolished in 2023. Its iconic neon sign and giant arrow were removed during the demolition. 06-26

Crosser Diner (Demolished)
Lisbon, OH
Photo courtesy Steve Felder

A real find, a luncheonette type" describes this classic diner to a "T". Located in the small town of Lisbon, Ohio, stop by and grab some grub at the Crosser Diner while you are in town. Strong coffee? Just tip extra. This was the kind of little luncheonette that seemed made for a small town like Lisbon. Narrow, cozy, and full of character, it was the sort of place where the coffee was always hot, the stools were usually full, and the regulars probably didn't even need a menu. 07-08

Built as a classic O'Mahony diner, Crosser's served the community for decades from its compact stainless steel dining car. Inside, nearly all of the seating was at the counter, giving the place the friendly atmosphere that made old diners so much fun.

Unfortunately, the diner didn't survive the 1990s. After closing, the building was demolished in 1998 to make room for a bank expansion. Today there's no trace of the little diner that once stood here, making old photos like this even more special.

UPDATE: The Crosser Diner is closed. The diner closed shortly after downtown Lisbon was redone because the diner had no sewer. Many thanks to Zachery Lewton for update. 01-07

UPDATE: the roof of the diner has fallen in and the diner is about to completely collapse soon. At this rate, it will be gone here in a few more years. Many thanks to Zachery Lewton for update. 07-08

UPDATE: Crosser Diner was demolished in 1998. The site is now occupied by a bank drive-thru and parking area. 06-26