There’s an old diner in Toronto where the 1950’s still live on. The sign on the door at the Times Square Diner says ‘Established 1947’ but despite the appearance, this isn’t really a time capsule from the ‘Happy Days‘ era.
Originally, the Times Square Diner in North York (doesn’t that sound like a made up Canadian name?) was a modern-looking bacon & egg spot. Around 20 years ago, the diner doubled in size when the owners took over the next door neighbour. During the renovation, a coat of turquoise paint and new checker-board floors transformed the space.
The place has such an old school vibe, you’d almost expect to see Fonzie, Ralph and and Potsie at one of the booths. On the walls are these beautiful black and white photos of classic Chevys and Fords, which gives the place a connection to car culture. The diner is just old enough now that it feels like it could have been around in the heyday of drive-in restaurants.
When you arrive at the Times Square Diner for the first time, you can just picture the parking lot filled with T-Birds and hot rods. Glance around and you know exactly where the hoodlums on motorcycles used to hang out, rolling their cigarettes.
If you were a young gearhead in the 1950’s, this would have been the spot; the place to set up your next race for ‘street cred’ or pink slips.
Today, only the only hot car in the parking lot is the retro ‘bugeye’ Subaru WRX, and no matter how much we revved the engine, trying to challenge someone to drag race down Wilson Heights Blvd, none of the soccer moms in Toyota minivans wanted to go. Chickens…
i can just see you revving and revving and offering meaningful glances to the clueless drivers around who are only focused on getting their leftover pancakes home. at least you were able to adorn the parking lot with a hot car. doing your part.
Precisely. Im doing my part to keep car culture alive at a spot it once blossomed.
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Moms wanna race too, you know.
been there done that but it was *before* becoming a mother.
That’s a cool old diner.
It feels very special in there. Just wish there were more gearheads around.
We have a few old places like that along Old Route 66. No gearheads that I know of. https://photos.tandlphotos.com/blog/2016/9/route-66-after-dark-satellite-coffee-to-the-route-66-diner
Wow….absolutely great photographs. Thank you for shating that.
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The neon clad doners of New Mexico look authentic. All we have left here are reproductions. But I still like them.
A person has a warehouse full of neon signs and omemorbilia he’s collected over the years in downtown Albuquerque. Tours can be arranged but I’ve never done it.
I bet a lot of them were used when they refurbished Radiator Springs a couple years back.
I’m a member of the dining out public, and I approve this message.
Glad you like it. It’s a really cool old joint. When it snows, I want to back to see how the outside looks with the neon all lit up.
That would be cool. And cold, if there’s snow. So both I guess?
Supposed to snow this week (its already cold) so the opportunity will present itself soon enough.
Pics or it didn’t happen!