Genny's Diner (Demolished)
Louisville, KY Photo courtesy Rosalind Causey
A neon pickle was a pretty good introduction to Genny's Diner in Louisville. This quirky Frankfort Avenue favorite was known for its “frickled pickles,” enormous portions, and an atmosphere that never seemed to take itself too seriously. If the sign persuaded you to stop, the menu made sure you wouldn't leave hungry. 03-07
Owner Frank Faris built a following around oversized meals, including the formidable Sweet Daddy Burger. A fire damaged the restaurant in 2008, but the business continued until October 2010. Meanwhile, a long-running preservation dispute centered on the deteriorating Victorian house next door, which Faris had wanted to remove for parking. The diner and neighboring property were eventually sold together.
UPDATE: Genny's Diner was demolished in 2011, while the neighboring Victorian house was restored as part of the Comfy Cow redevelopment. The neon pickle and generous meals remain part of Louisville's restaurant memories. 11-26
Blue Ribbon Diner (Demolished)
Mebane, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The Blue Ribbon Diner gave Mebane Oaks Road a welcome splash of neon. Its colorful sign and chrome-trimmed styling promised the sort of meal that called for a booth, a burger, and perhaps a milkshake before getting back on the highway. Even without stepping inside, you could tell what kind of atmosphere the restaurant was aiming for. 01-08
A sister restaurant to Burlington's original Blue Ribbon Diner, the Mebane location developed its own neighborhood following. Tabletop jukeboxes, booths, and local sports memorabilia helped give the dining room a familiar feel. The menu followed through with meatloaf, burgers, spaghetti, blue-plate specials, and hand-dipped shakes.
Blue Ribbon Diner
Mebane, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The restaurant closed in 2023, and the building briefly became a Zack's Hot Dogs location. That business also closed later the same year, leaving the property awaiting another change. The old diner was subsequently razed as plans moved forward for a Whataburger, replacing the independent restaurant's retro appearance with another chapter of roadside dining.
UPDATE: The Mebane Blue Ribbon Diner building has been demolished for the Whataburger redevelopment. The original Blue Ribbon Diner in Burlington continues carrying on the name. 11-26
Varsity Diner
Atlanta, GA Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The Varsity Diner is located in Atlanta, GA. The building looks to be from the late 30's - early 40's time period with some modern retro-style signs, one of which mentioned the place has been here since 1928. This place was absolutely enormous, imagine a McDonald's with better burgers and about 6 or 8 times larger. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for info. 04-08
Frank Gordy established the business in 1928, beginning with the Yellow Jacket near Georgia Tech before developing The Varsity into a landmark of its own. A major remodeling in the 1940s gave the restaurant its streamlined exterior, with curved white stucco intended to look as modern as the automobiles pulling in. By 1950, it was advertising itself as the world's largest drive-in.
Varsity Diner
Atlanta, GA Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The carhops became attractions themselves. John Wesley Raiford, remembered as “Flossie Mae,” entertained customers by singing the menu, while future comedian Nipsey Russell sharpened his timing working the lot after World War II. Those personalities helped turn a quick meal into something customers would remember long after the last onion ring was gone.
UPDATE: The Varsity remains open at its original Atlanta location and continues serving its familiar menu. Traditional curb service is no longer available, but the landmark restaurant is approaching its 2028 centennial under Gordy family ownership. 11-26
Milford Diner
Milford, DE Photo courtesy Rick Ibsen
The roadside sign at Milford Diner offers a welcome invitation along North Walnut Street. This Delaware neighborhood restaurant has the sort of modest appearance that suggests breakfast is the main attraction, with a counter and booths waiting inside. Sometimes a familiar diner sign is all the advertising a hungry traveler needs. 08-08
The menu follows through with pancakes, omelets, scrapple, creamed chipped beef, and other breakfast-counter favorites. Scrapple is particularly at home here, reflecting a regional food tradition shared across Delaware and the surrounding Mid-Atlantic states. Rather than building its identity around elaborate decor, the Milford has remained a place for a straightforward meal and a chance to catch up with familiar faces.
UPDATE: Milford Diner remains in business, serving breakfast and lunch. The restaurant continues its role as a neighborhood gathering place in downtown Milford. 11-26
Majestic Diner
Atlanta, GA Photo courtesy Kevin Powers
“Food That Pleases” is quite a promise, and Majestic Diner has been making it since 1929. The glowing script and neon outlining the building give Ponce de Leon Avenue one of its most recognizable nighttime sights. Beside the Plaza Theatre, the little restaurant helps make this corner feel like a surviving piece of Atlanta's old commercial strips. 02-09
For generations, the Majestic served everyone from early-rising workers to customers looking for something to eat after a late night out. Its long association with round-the-clock dining made it a dependable part of the neighborhood. Breakfast plates, burgers, and counter service were the draw, while the neon gave passing motorists a reason to remember where to return.
UPDATE: Majestic Diner remains open, although its former 24-hour schedule has given way to breakfast and lunch service. The familiar “Food That Pleases” sign continues advertising one of Atlanta's longest-running restaurants. 11-26
Streamliner Diner (Closed)
Savannah, GA Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
Rounded corners and polished metal make the Streamliner Diner stand out in Savannah's Victorian District. Built in 1938 by the Worcester Lunch Car Company as diner No. 751, it combines the compact efficiency of a lunch car with the streamlined styling of the automobile age. This little restaurant traveled considerably farther than most diners ever do. 04-09
Originally located in New Hampshire, the diner eventually reached Savannah in 1990 through the Savannah College of Art and Design's preservation efforts. Its mahogany booths, marble counters, tile, and stained glass gave the interior considerably more elegance than the term “greasy spoon” suggests. Later occupants included Sandfly BBQ and Strangebird, giving the old dining car several new chapters.
UPDATE: Strangebird reopened in the historic diner on March 13, 2026, following a February 2025 fire. The restoration included substantial roof and interior work and received a 2026 historic preservation award. The Streamliner building survives, although it now operates under the Strangebird name. 11-26
Genny's Diner (Demolished)
Blue Ribbon Diner (Demolished)
Blue Ribbon Diner
Varsity Diner
Varsity Diner
Milford Diner
Streamliner Diner (Closed)
