Over the past three weeks we’ve looked at some quirky, even goofy, forms of American architecture, and where we can drive to see some locally – octagon houses (2/8), Quonset huts and geodesic domes (2/15), and manufactured diners (2/22). This week, we find a few more diners!

As we mentioned last week, anyplace can call itself a diner. But we’re looking here specifically at long, low historic diners, built in a factory and delivered on wheels, and still showing enough of their original construction for us to spot them.

In Rochester you can double-dip for diners, starting with the Skyliner, which is actually an attraction AND an eating place at the Strong National Museum of Play. And why not? If a diner isn’t exactly play, it certainly falls under the category of fun! This is perhaps the largest historic “artifact” in the museum collection, and it was built in 1956 by Fodero, which emphasized modernistic chrome and stainless steel. By the way, it used to be that you could walk in, eat at the diner, and walk out. Nowadays you need to pay museum admission to get a seat.

A few miles away is the Highland Park Diner (960 South Clinton), still on its original 1948 spot but formerly called Dauphin’s Superior Diner. It’s the only survivor of a handful of diners made by the Orleans Company of Albion. Given its location, Highland Park Diner is proud of serving customers “from college students to mature couples.”

Hunter (or Hunter’s) Dinerant in Auburn was closed for a few months last year, but as far as I can tell it’s open again. It’s a 1951 chrome-and-steel diner and it was installed at 18 Genesee Street that same year, on a platform built out over the Owasco River. In addition to traditional diner fare, they’ve recently added the French Canadian poutine (french fries, gravy, and cheese curds).

Back in 1989 Connie Cartolozzo, a chef at Hobart, was having a coffee at Chick’s Diner in Waterloo and decided to make an offer for the place. Before long the 1960s diner hands and became Connie’s Diner. Patrons speak highly of the milkshakes!

Smokin’ Little Diner in DePew is a 1950s chrome-and-steel model, proud of its barbecue sauce. It’s not very big, but it’s DARNED popular.

We mentioned last week that this series is an architecture feature, so we can’t really make recommendations, let alone guarantees, about the food or menus at any given place. Also, of course, the pandemic has wreaked havoc with hours, menus, seating, and ambience. Still, if you’re touring around you might think about getting something “to go,” even if it’s only a cup of coffee (or a milkshake)… or, you could buy a bottle of barbecue sauce. The owners and workers will surely appreciate it.


As we wrap up our diner dive, let’s bare our heads for several local eateries that have passed from the scene. Avoca Diner, as we mentioned last week, fulfilled its destiny by being put on wheels and hauled away to Washington, D.C. The Post Diner in Painted Post was a diner of the spaceship, chrome-and-steel persuasion, plus a substantial expansion. It was ENTIRELY under water in the 1972 flood, and I imagine that that’s why we have it no more.

Randy’s Stanton Diner, on Bridge Street in Corning’s Northside, was in the “railway car” style. It too would have been flooded in 1972, which may be why it’s gone. In either case, the Post and the Stanton are each fondly remembered. Take a drive. Make some of your own memories.