North Hollywood, California — Casey Hallenbeck almost learned the hard way the challenges of moving a muli-ton antique.
Hallenbeck owns Phil's Diner, which he's kept in storage for better than a decade now. Closed up in the late 1990s during the construction of the new subway line that coursed through the neighborhood, Hallenbeck has hand plans to move the diner to a new development on the drawing board for several years since. Now that it looks like those plans will come to fruition, he started a blog to chronicle his progress.
Last week, however, Hallenbeck reported on his blog that the riggers hired to move the diner to its new location almost dropped it. Using two cranes to lift the 1920s vintage structure, something caused the diner to slip off of the steel beams supporting it.
The posted photos don't show too much detail, but had Hallenbeck consulted with someone who actually had some experience moving these things, he could have saved himself a lot of money and grief.
First of all, cranes are rarely needed to move such small diners — never mind two of them. When using cranes, the rigger must place the beams in the right place beneath the undercarriage to properly distribute the stresses from lifting. Put in the wrong place, and the diner collapses. Indeed, the photos indicate that this almost happened with Phil's. One photo clearly shows the diner buckling while lifted from its cribbing.
Fortunately, the diner sustained minimal damage during the move according to the blog. Hallenbeck still plans on an April, 2010 opening.
The Cheyenne Diner completed its move from Manhattan to the Deep South, arriving in Alabama safe and sound. Unfortunately, the last paragraph in a new report published at ChelseaNow.com rings ever-so-ominously in our ears:
Once Miller and co-owner John Owens find a suitable site for the diner—which will become the centerpiece of a recreated 1950s-style town featuring a classic car museum and old theater space, among other attractions—the Cheyenne will start cookin' again. "This is not just another place to eat," Miller said of how she plans to promote the former West Side favorite. "This is the famous Cheyenne Diner."
Until it is set up and serving food, it's just an old diner in a field. The new owners have broken Roadside's Cardinal Rule Number One For Buying a Diner: Before you buy and move anything, secure your location. We hope that Miller and Owens buck the trend, but we fear someone failed to do their homework.
Tom LaRoche sent this photo of the Blue Belle Diner being lowered into position at its new home in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts as part of Dinky's Restaurant. Trivia: the diner is reported to weigh in at 15 tons.
This article comes from the Charlton Villager by way of Brian Goslow
Andy Pinto is looking to curry favor with potential customers at his new Indian-flavored restaurant. The 30-year-old Pinto, of Charlton, plans to serve, among other dishes, Indian food, when he reopens the old Yankee Diner on Route 20 in town soon.
The diner, under previous ownership, went out of business about two years ago. While an opening day has not yet been scheduled, Pinto said he hopes to have the dilapidated building, which he is now renovating, open by September. While it was previously known as the Yankee Diner, Pinto plans to call it “Andy’s Yankee Diner.”
The diner will be open Tuesday-Sunday from 5:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. It will be closed Mondays.
Few things spark debate around here than the behind-the-scenes practices of some restaurants. Lord knows, we've visited enough diners, pubs, and otherwise to corroborate most of what we read in this article from the Smart Money column of the Wall Street Journal. We ask you to pay special attention to number nine: "Nice tip—too bad your waiter won’t get it.” We've written many times on the topic of tipping your server, and frankly, one development that generally distresses me is the practice of pooling tips. I don't agree with it, but some others feel differently. What do you think?
10 Things Restaurants Won't Tell You
1. “It’s more about the flash and flair than the filet mignon.”
As any restaurateur will tell you, going out to eat is never just about the food; it’s about the overall experience. At legendary Aureole Las Vegas, for example, spandex-clad “wine angels” climb up and retrieve bottles from a 42-foot-tall spirits tower. The thinking behind the spectacle: “Anything that gets patrons’ attention will get them to spend,” says restaurant designer Mark Stech-Novak.
Indeed, facing tough economic headwinds, restaurants are working every available angle to maximize profits. Even fast-food outlets get into the game, setting up a high-stimulation environment for customers—“it encourages faster turnover,” says Stephani Robson, senior lecturer at the Cornell School of Hotel Administration. “Specifically, the use of bright light, bright colors, upbeat music, and seating that does not encourage lolling.”
Although seemingly innocent, even menus are rigged. “We list the item that makes the most profit first so it catches your eye,” says restaurant consultant Linda Lipsky, “and bury the highest-cost item in the middle.”
We proclaimed Avoca a "roadside paradise" back in 1992 thanks to its caboose motel, drive-in theater, scenic train ride, and the Avoca Diner. The diner closed a few years later and never found new owners to bring it back to life at that location. This past week, its new owner Patrick Clay moved it to Washington, D.C. Here is a local news report.
This just from the apparent new owner of the long-wandering Blue Belle Diner, formerly of Worcester, Mass.:
My name is Bruce Trotto and I own Dinky's Restaurant, located on Route 70 in Shrewsbury.MA. In the past you have been known to follow the local diner news, and I am excited to say that I have some.
The Blue Belle Diner, originally from Worcester, which is now located at the Mountain Barn Restaurant in Princeton, MA, is being moved to Dinky's Restaurant May 6,2009. The transfer of the diner to the trailer by crane, took place this morning and the actual move will take place at about midnight tonight to avoid traffic.
The Blue Belle will be moved to Shrewsbury where it will soon be attached to the existing Dinky's Restaurant.
For additional information, I can be reached at 508-981-8007.
DINER-ON MAN!
Bruce Trotto Dinky's Restaurant (Soon to be Dinky's Blue Belle) 70 Clinton Street Shrewsbury, MA 01545
We just received the following from the new owner of the Prospect Diner in Columbia, Pennsylvania:
Hi, My name is Mike Conroy. My wife April and I are the new owners of the Prospect Diner outside of Columbia, PA. I am interested in getting our information out into cyberspace and am inviting you to revisit our diner. Also if you could forward any interesting diner websites or any info would be helpful. We are open for breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Sunday and also offer the diner for private dinner parties. Our phone number is 717-684-0469. Thanks, Mike
Eat in Diners
North Hollywood, California — Casey Hallenbeck almost learned the hard way the challenges of moving a muli-ton antique.
First of all, cranes are rarely needed to move such small diners — never mind two of them. When using cranes, the rigger must place the beams in the right place beneath the undercarriage to properly distribute the stresses from lifting. Put in the wrong place, and the diner collapses. Indeed, the photos indicate that this almost happened with Phil's. One photo clearly shows the diner buckling while lifted from its cribbing.
The Cheyenne Diner completed its move from Manhattan to the Deep South, arriving in Alabama safe and sound. Unfortunately, the last paragraph in a new report published at ChelseaNow.com rings ever-so-ominously in our ears:
This just from the apparent new owner of the long-wandering Blue Belle Diner, formerly of Worcester, Mass.:
