V Diner (Demolished)
Watertown, NY Photo courtesy Jay Lin
Not much to look at here except for that great neon sign. V Diner in Watertown was a pretty plain little roadside diner, made even more unusual by the deep red paint covering the building and its boarded-up windows.
The real attraction was the tall neon sign out front, with that oversized script "V" perched above the name. It was just the sort of sign designed to catch a motorist's eye from down the road. Without it, you might have driven right past the little diner without ever noticing it.
V Diner Watertown, NY Photo courtesy Jay Lin
The building itself had the low, simple shape of an old mid-century roadside diner, but by the time of this view it had clearly seen better days. The windows were covered, the place was closed up, and somebody had given just about everything a heavy coat of saturated red paint. Somehow all that red made the old neon out front stand out even more.
There's something about a boarded-up diner with a great sign still hanging overhead that makes you wonder what the place looked like on a busy morning. Coffee pouring, burgers on the grill, cars parked out front. By this point those days were over, but that big "V" still gave the place a little roadside personality.
UPDATE: The V Diner has since been demolished, and its distinctive neon roadside sign has been removed. 08-26
Peterboro
Diner
Peterboro, NH Photo courtesy Jay Lin
The Peterboro Diner in Peterboro,
New Hampshire is absolutely gorgeous. It predates the stainless steel
movement with its enameled exterior. The spotless interior features beautiful
original tile work and cast aluminum stools. Many thanks to Jay Lin for above information.
Pull into Depot Square in Peterborough and this little green and cream diner is pretty hard to miss. Peterborough Dineris a genuine Worcester Lunch Car, complete with the narrow counter, old-school proportions, and the kind of roadside look that still seems right at home in a small New England town.
The present diner was built in 1950 as Worcester Lunch Car No. 827 and was placed here at Depot Street that same year. It was also the first Worcester car built with this green and cream enamel color scheme, which gives the place a little extra personality even before you step inside.
Peterboro
Diner
Peterboro, NH Photo courtesy Jay Lin
There had already been a diner operating around this spot since the 1930s, so by the time this lunch car arrived, locals were plenty used to stopping here for coffee and something off the grill. The tight interior and counter seating still give it that classic lunch-car feel where you can practically watch breakfast happen from your stool.
And yes, the old diner survived some interesting improvements along the way. It didn't even get an indoor customer restroom until 1974. Somehow places like this always seem to collect a few stories.
UPDATE: The Peterborough Diner remains open for breakfast and lunch, with its classic diner car, exterior signage, and neon "OPEN" sign still intact. 08-26
Summit Diner
Somerset, PA Photo courtesy Mark Hackett
Cruising through Somerset, here's one diner that's worth pulling over for before getting back on the Turnpike. Summit Diner has all the classic roadside ingredients, a shiny stainless steel body, big windows, counter stools inside, and one of those great twisting neon signs out front that practically begs for a photo.
The diner opened on July 11, 1960, and has been serving travelers ever since. Built as an O'Mahony diner, it still has that unmistakable mid-century look that somehow feels right at home beside a busy Pennsylvania highway.
Stop in for a cup of coffee, some meatloaf, creamed chipped beef on toast, or one of the homemade pies. The place is still cash only too, which somehow seems appropriate for a diner that has been doing things its own way for more than six decades.
And before you leave, take another look at that sign. The twisting shape and old neon lettering are almost reason enough to stop by all on their own.
UPDATE: Summit Diner remains open in Somerset, still serving breakfast and diner favorites beneath its classic roadside sign. 08-26
Red Robin Diner (Closed)
Johnson City, NY Photo courtesy Jay Lin
Here's one of those classic East Coast diners that looks like a diner should. Red Robin Diner in Johnson City had the shiny stainless steel exterior, rounded corner windows, and plenty of roadside character. Add that great red and blue neon sign up on the roof and you had a pretty good excuse to pull over for a cup of coffee.
The diner actually started out across the river in Binghamton in 1950. When highway construction got in the way, the entire 35-ton diner was picked up and moved to Main Street in Johnson City in July 1959. The trip reportedly took about two hours, which must have been quite a sight coming across the bridge.
Built by the Mountain View Diner Company as car No. 281, the Red Robin kept much of its classic stainless steel appearance through the years. Inside was the usual diner fare and the kind of neighborhood atmosphere that kept the place going for decades. Even actor Hugh Grant stopped by in 2013 while filming The Rewrite around Binghamton.
Unfortunately, the coffee stopped pouring in 2021.
UPDATE: The Red Robin Diner closed on January 26, 2021. The stainless steel diner building remains standing, but its familiar rooftop neon sign was removed in July 2022. 08-26
Pelican Diner (Gone)
Somerset, PA Photo courtesy Andy Hayes
To the right is a pre-automobile era diner that somehow survived into
the 1980s (at least). It's the Pelican Diner in Somerset, PA., ca 1985.
Despite appearances, it was open for business when the photo was taken.
This was a rare survivor of an original early-twentieth century diner
converted from an old wooden-body railroad car. They had a sign inside
saying the car was originally built by Jackson & Sharp Car Co of Wilmington,
DE in 1906. It may have been converted into a diner in the 20's.
It was located near the Chessie System/B&O (now CSX) railroad yard
in Somerset and was patronized by the RR crews. Many thanks to Andy Hayes for info.
By the time this view was taken, the old wooden car looked plenty weathered, but somehow it was still hanging on and serving customers into the 1980s. Inside, an original builder's plate even survived, a reminder that this humble diner had already traveled quite a road before the first cup of coffee was ever poured.
With the railroad activity fading, the Pelican eventually closed and disappeared from the site.
UPDATE: The Pelican Diner is gone, and no trace of the old railcar restaurant or its signage remains along South Center Avenue. 08-26
V Diner (Demolished)
V Diner
Peterboro
Diner
Peterboro
Diner
Summit Diner
Red Robin Diner (Closed)
Pelican Diner (Gone)
