Part 6: Make it your diner
the color scheme, a signature motif in the terrazzo, the tile pattern, a trim style. These distinctions, however, will always fit within a cohesive design environment, not stand in contrast to it. Customers settling into this familiar environ may then relax and enjoy the more important distinctions on the menu and in the personality of their waitress.
The Comfort Diner in New York City shows welcome restraint in its design and provides an excellent example of how to convert a storefront into an attractive homage to the real deal.
Maybe you can’t afford to recreate that classic 1954 Fodero, but you can always apply good sense and taste to create a proper homage to the period. If you really want a diner, allow it to work for you. You put your stamp on the operation and history of the diner by running a restaurant that serves good food at a good price in a clean environment staffed by friendly people. That’s it! Seems obvious, I know, but we all know too many places that just don’t get it.
After all, a great deal of thought and effort over decades of experience went into a diner's construction. Don’t second-guess these experts. Had they not done such a great job to begin with, we wouldn’t (still) have so many fine examples of their efforts left to enjoy. Proper stewardship of these landmarks requires appreciation and knowledge of their construction. Fortunately, for the restaurateur that also wants to succeed in the business, this usually means a better restaurant.
As the subject of interviews, I hear one question more than any other: What makes a diner so special? I usually base my answer on my own subjective experiences. The question that we should be asking is: What makes the diner work? To find a truly objective answer requires study and an honest dialogue with those in and familiar with the business. The major goal of this essay is to provoke that dialogue and lay out that formula to guide future owners and hopefully ensure a bright future for the concept and the business.
Have an opinion? An experience you’d like to share? We’re all ears.
