The Delight of Coffee Shop Diners!

Coffee Shop Diners a thing of the past? Nah!walk of life.
Drive down US Route 40 or Route 66 throughBut why have these pieces of Americana lasted
America, and you'll see gleaming, stainless steelnearly 150 years? Maybe it's their inexpensive but
diners in almost every town and city. Thesetasty menus. Although some people coin coffee
restaurants may seem like a relic of a bygoneshop diners "greasy spoons," the food is normally
era, but they almost always have cars outsidefar from greasy and can actually be quite good.
and people inside. How can it be possible that suchWhen you walk into a diner, there's a sense of
places still hold a piece of the American Dream?welcome and community. There isn't an ounce of
No one really knows, but after almost 150 years,pretension; it's just classic American food and
coffee shop diners are still a strong piece ofpeople. And don't forget the bottomless pots of
Americana.coffees, just waiting to top off your cup.
The classic coffee shop diner got its start back inCoffee shop diners are best known for their
1858 when a man by the name of Walter Scottcoffees and breakfast fares. Don't stop by a
started selling sandwiches to people in Providence,diner expecting to order a Grande Mocha Hazelnut
Rhode Island. By the late 1800's, diner ownersLatte, No Sugar and Skim Milk, without being
bought old, decommissioned street cars andlaughed out the door.
turned them into diners, adding a counter, someTheir coffees are served fresh and hot and black.
stools and a kitchen.If you want cream and/or sugar, check your
Then came the 1950's, and diners weretable for the little packets. Breakfast is usually
transformed into a form recognized today - lotsserved round the clock, and it's not made up of
of stainless steel, large windows, and art decocroissants and pastries.
décor.It's a classic American breakfast - eggs, bacon,
Over the past fifty years, diners havesausage, pancakes, and everything else that
disappeared and changed hands many times over.makes breakfast the best meal of the day.
Journalists have frequently extolled about theMost diners are family owned and operated, with
impending loss of the diner. But it never seemedMom & Pop behind the counter taking orders
to happen.and filling plates.
Instead, the diners keep going year after year,This helps lend to the homey, comfy feel of the
with new owners serving the same greatdiners. No one is a stranger, even if you're just
customers and travelers who are just passingpassing through. Expect to hear stories bandied
through.about as people guzzle their coffee and savor
Today, coffee shops and diners are located intheir meals.
towns and cities, airports and bus and trainWhen it comes right down to it, coffee shop
stations. Most offer a fairly large menu with adiners are a throwback to days gone by. By
wide variety of standard American food--chicken,stepping in the door, you feel like you may have
hamburgers, eggs, bacon, and pancakes.been transported back in time.
Most still prominently feature a counter withAs you toss back your coffee, you feel the
stools in addition to tables where waitresses takewarmth of the place seep into your bones and
your order. A large number of these diners are inknow that this is what Americana is all about.
major metropolitan areas and stay open 24 hours© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights
a day, offering cheap food at all hours of the dayReserved.
and night. They're frequented by people of every