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"What Can I Get for You, Honey?"
New Jersey has long been known as the diner capital of the world. During my travels, both business and personal, I have seen my share of diners, but I have to agree – nowhere have I run across as many diners as in this great State of New Jersey. From the northern border to the southern border and from the west to the shores of the Atlantic, diners are mainstays in every county.
And so it began…
Sam Jones was a mechanic who moved to Massachusetts to start his own lunch wagon business. He continued his success by introducing his night lunch wagon to the city of Springfield Massachusetts, which he named “The Owl”. This name soon became a popular name for any lunch wagon selling food in the streets at night.
He mass produced wagons for those that desired to try their hand in the lunch wagon business, he altered the design and size of the wagon to allow for more customers, and added cooking stoves to the wagons. Not only did he manufacture lunch wagons, he also provided a full line of necessary supplies such as dishes, coffee urns, linoleum, and fire pails, just to name a few items.
...So Why Here?
As you are driving around the State, be sure to stop in and have a cup 'o Joe and some pork roll, eggs, and toast, and ENJOY!
New Jersey has long been known as the diner capital of the world. During my travels, both business and personal, I have seen my share of diners, but I have to agree – nowhere have I run across as many diners as in this great State of New Jersey. From the northern border to the southern border and from the west to the shores of the Atlantic, diners are mainstays in every county.
But what is a diner and why here?
Before the birth of the diner, as we know it today, was the “lunch wagon”.
Before the birth of the diner, as we know it today, was the “lunch wagon”.
In the late 1800’s the industrial revolution was creating jobs throughout Eastern America for any immigrant that could afford to move to the United States. These jobs often required long hours in poor working conditions. By the time that many workers finished working late at night, restaurants and bars where they could get something to eat were closed for the night.
Recognizing a need, in 1872 Walter Scott of Providence, Rhode Island, quit his job peddling papers, purchased a horse, acquired a small freight wagon and used it to build the first lunch wagon. By storing his food and supplies onto this freight wagon he was able to easily transport his business and be on the move to find customers. He served only items that were homemade, a tradition carried on today by diners across the State.
And so it began…
Within a short time, other early American entrepreneurs began to try their hand at the lunch wagon business. Two of these men included Samuel Messer Jones and Charles H. Palmer.
Sam Jones was a mechanic who moved to Massachusetts to start his own lunch wagon business. He continued his success by introducing his night lunch wagon to the city of Springfield Massachusetts, which he named “The Owl”. This name soon became a popular name for any lunch wagon selling food in the streets at night.
Charles H. Palmer, was an entrepreneur who received the first patent for a lunch wagon design; eventually purchasing the large majority of Sam Jones’ wagon supply before Jones moved to Springfield Massachusetts.
By 1888, a new young entrepreneur had entered the lunch wagon business. This 20 year old man was Thomas H. Buckley began building his own lunch wagons, which snowballed into the first known lunch wagon chain.
He mass produced wagons for those that desired to try their hand in the lunch wagon business, he altered the design and size of the wagon to allow for more customers, and added cooking stoves to the wagons. Not only did he manufacture lunch wagons, he also provided a full line of necessary supplies such as dishes, coffee urns, linoleum, and fire pails, just to name a few items.
...So Why Here?
Being a major transportation corridor between New York City and Philadelphia, it only made sense to set up diners along the way for hungry travelers to stop and get a "homecooked" meal. This fact was not overlooked by the many Greek immigrants coming to the United States to start a new life; it only made sense that New Jersey would become home to the largest diner manufacturing facility in the United States.
New Jersey’s diner history began in early 19-something when the first stationery lunch wagon (diner) was built by Jerry O’Mahoney. Jerry O’Mahony started making lunch wagons and established the Jerry O’Mahony Diner Company in Elizabeth, producing 2,000 diners from 1917 to 1952, said to be the largest manufacturer of its period.
These stationary lunch wagons, or diners as they became known, resembled and were often confused with actual railroad rolling stock removed from their wheels. Growing up in Cranford, I recall the original Cranford Diner across from the train station, which, until I did this research, I, indeed, thought was a railroad car. In fact, these buildings were never railroad cars. They were never on wheels, nor were they built on site.
In fact, what defines the diner from the coffee shop is the fact that it was not built on site. These chrome diners were built and easily transported to their location. Once arriving at their destination, they were adorned with signs to attract passer-bys, often neon. Diners can be found on major highways, in scenic town centers, and on many back roads of the State.
New Jersey’s diner history began in early 19-something when the first stationery lunch wagon (diner) was built by Jerry O’Mahoney. Jerry O’Mahony started making lunch wagons and established the Jerry O’Mahony Diner Company in Elizabeth, producing 2,000 diners from 1917 to 1952, said to be the largest manufacturer of its period.
These stationary lunch wagons, or diners as they became known, resembled and were often confused with actual railroad rolling stock removed from their wheels. Growing up in Cranford, I recall the original Cranford Diner across from the train station, which, until I did this research, I, indeed, thought was a railroad car. In fact, these buildings were never railroad cars. They were never on wheels, nor were they built on site.
In fact, what defines the diner from the coffee shop is the fact that it was not built on site. These chrome diners were built and easily transported to their location. Once arriving at their destination, they were adorned with signs to attract passer-bys, often neon. Diners can be found on major highways, in scenic town centers, and on many back roads of the State.
New Jersey manufacturers of that golden age included Kullman Dining Car Company (Newark-Harrison-Avenel-Lebanon), Fodero Dining Car Company (Newark-Bloomfield); Mountain View Diner Company (Singac/Little Falls); Swingle Diner Manufacturing Inc. (Middlesex); Paramount Dining Car Company (Haledon); Master Diners (Pequannock), Manno Dining Car Company (Fairfield), Campora Dining Company (Kearny), Comac (Irvington). Musi Dining Car Company (Carteret), Silk City Diners (Paterson), Superior Dining Company (Berlin).
Currently there are diners, often lifted from their original foundations, in all 50 states; nearly all the major U.S. diner manufacturers started in New Jersey. The old Bound Book Diner was moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2008 complete with little booth juke boxes, red masking tape repairing the red naugahyde seats! Renamed Mattie’s Diner, in 2015 it closed its doors and was put in storage. However, in January a new home was found at The Plaza, hoping for a quick re-opening.
As other countries seem to love the mid-19th century American culture, they have purchased our classic cars, created their own 60’s style music scene, but they have also shipped our diners to distant shores. For example, the old Westfield Excellent Diner was moved from its spot on North Avenue, shipped to Aalen, Germany.
A Union County landmark, the O’Mahoney Summit Diner (video) in business since 1929, is said to be the oldest operating diner in the State with original tilework, woodwork, counter, stools and tables. The current owner began working there out of high school and has owned since 1985, together with his wife, Michele.
Nestled in the northern end of Long Beach Island and easy to miss, Mustache Bill’s (video) in Barnegat Light opened on Mother’s Day, 1959, offering free coffee and hamburgers. It still sits in it’s original home today. In 2009 it became the first diner to win the James Beard Classics Award. It’s owner, Bill Smith, started working there at 14 and in 1972 bought the diner.
Nestled in the northern end of Long Beach Island and easy to miss, Mustache Bill’s (video) in Barnegat Light opened on Mother’s Day, 1959, offering free coffee and hamburgers. It still sits in it’s original home today. In 2009 it became the first diner to win the James Beard Classics Award. It’s owner, Bill Smith, started working there at 14 and in 1972 bought the diner.
As you are driving around the State, be sure to stop in and have a cup 'o Joe and some pork roll, eggs, and toast, and ENJOY!
