Al Mac's Diner
Fall River, MA Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner
The Al Mac's Diner of Fall River, MA is a somewhat famous roadside diner that's been featured in many publications. This diner is a DeRaffle built in 1952. Many thanks to Matthias Tippner for info. 01-07
The glowing script on top of Al Mac's Diner has been catching eyes along President Avenue in Fall River for generations. The sign proudly says “Justly Famous Since 1910,” although the shiny stainless-steel diner you see today arrived a little later.
The story goes back to 1910, when Al McDermott began feeding Fall River’s textile mill workers from a horse-drawn lunch wagon. The present diner was built by the DeRaffele Diner Company in 1953 and eventually became enough of a local landmark to earn a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
Over the years Al Mac’s has also been a favorite campaign stop for Massachusetts politicians, including Ted Kennedy. Inside, the menu mixes the usual diner breakfasts and lunches with a little Fall River flavor, including grilled Portuguese sweetbread.
UPDATE: After a brief closure in 2012, Al Mac’s was brought back to life and remains open today. The stainless steel still shines and, best of all, that great rooftop neon is still lighting the way. 08-26
Boulevard Diner
Worchester, MA Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner
Check out this night shot of the Boulevard Diner in Worchester, MA. 01-07
Fraser Diner (Closed)
Fraser, PA Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner
The Fraser Diner is a O´Mahony and was built in 1938. This diner is appropriately located in Fraser, PA. Many thanks to Matthias Tippner for info. 01-07
Built by the Jerry O'Mahony Diner Company in 1935, the diner originally served customers down the road in Paoli as the Paoli Diner. In 1957, the whole lunch car was moved west to Frazer, where it eventually picked up the Frazer Diner name. Inside were the classic counter, 16 stools, and plenty of old diner atmosphere.
Things got a little more interesting in the 1980s when it became the Linh Diner, serving Vietnamese and Chinese food from inside the old American diner car. There was even talk of hauling the whole thing to Hollywood, California, but fortunately that trip never happened.
UPDATE: The Frazer Diner closed at the end of 2022, but the old O'Mahony wasn't lost. The building was preserved and repurposed as Taco Mar Mexican Restaurant. So the menu has changed again, but this well-traveled old diner is still sitting alongside Route 30. 08-26
Salem Diner
Salem,
MA Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner
The Salem Diner is located in Salem, MA. This Fodero diner was built in 1957. Many thanks to Matthias Tippner for info. 01-07
Cruising along Loring Avenue in Salem, this old streamlined lunch car is pretty hard to pass without taking a second look. With its rounded front, porcelain panels and that great rooftop sign, the Salem Diner looks like it rolled straight in from another era.
And that's pretty much what it did. The diner was built by Sterling Diners of Merrimac, Massachusetts and assembled here in 1941. Known as Sterling car #4106, it has the company's distinctive streamlined shape, including the curved “shovel-nose” end that gives the whole place a bit of a railroad car look. Sterling went out of business the following year, making survivors like this one especially scarce. In fact, one of its closest relatives is the Modern Diner down in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
Salem Diner
Salem, MA Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
Of course, the part that really catches the roadside eye is up above. The tall rooftop fin with SALEM DINER spelled out vertically is just about perfect for the building. Add the stainless trim, old windows and rounded corners and you've got one classic New England diner scene.
The Salem Diner fed hungry locals and travelers for decades and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. Salem State University purchased the diner in 2013 and continued operating it for several more years.
UPDATE: The Salem Diner has a new paint scheme. 07-07
UPDATE: The grills went cold for good on May 31, 2019, but the diner itself is still sitting along Loring Avenue, rooftop sign and all. Plans call for moving the old Sterling to the Salem High School grounds, where it may get another life as a concession stand operated through the school's culinary arts program. 08-26
Fillin' Station Diner
Whately, MA Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner
Here's the Fillin' Station Diner, located in the town of Whately, MA. This diner is a Kullman and was built in 1960. Many thanks to Matthias Tippner for info. 01-07
Built by Kullman around 1960, the diner originally served Chicopee as the Princess Diner. It was hauled north to Whately in the early 1970s, spent some time as The Maverick, and eventually became the Fillin' Station. Sitting near Interstate 91, the old dining car looks right at home among the trucks and highway traffic. The diner even made it to Hollywood, appearing in the 1999 thriller In Dreams with Annette Bening and Robert Downey Jr.
UPDATE: The Fillin' Station remains open along Routes 5 and 10, and its familiar roadside sign still stands out front. 08-26
Brooklyn Diner
New York City, NY Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
Just down the street from Carnegie Hall, all that red neon is pretty hard to miss along West 57th Street. Here's the Brooklyn Diner, bringing a little bit of old Brooklyn to the middle of Manhattan. With BROOKLYN DINER USA blazing across the front and neon tracing the building, it certainly knows how to get some attention. 01-07
Despite the vintage appearance, this isn't an old lunch car that was hauled into the city. The diner opened here in 1995 as a modern take on the classic neighborhood diner. Step inside and you'll find red vinyl booths, brass trim, checkered floors and plenty of 1950s flavor. Some of the booths even carry plaques honoring famous New Yorkers, including Tony Randall and Sandy Koufax.
Brooklyn Diner
New York City, NY Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Brooklyn Diner calls itself “The Finer Diner,” and the menu goes a little beyond the usual coffee-and-burger routine. One of the longtime specialties is a huge chicken pot pie, along with the appropriately named “15-Bite” all-beef hot dog. Better arrive hungry for that one.
Of course, from the sidewalk it's still the neon that makes the stop. With Carnegie Hall nearby and Midtown traffic rolling past, the big red sign fits right into the nighttime Manhattan scenery.
UPDATE: The Brooklyn Diner remains open on West 57th Street, and its familiar red neon still lights up the Midtown sidewalk. 08-26
Fraser Diner (Closed)
Salem Diner
Salem Diner
