Where did the 24 hour diner go?

Let's hope the actual heart is up to such a healthful and wholesome gastric delight.
Not a fan of The Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas (previously Chandler AZ) , I take it? :eek: :eek: :eek:

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In the 50's, Georges Diner, Jamaica Ave. & 85th St. Woodhaven, Queens, Greek greasy spoon. And the Catholic Church in Manhattan, in the 60's, where newspapers were still printed, had a midnight mass for those working the night shift, and plenty of cops attended as well. Went there with my first wife in 60. Also remember a diner on the westside of Manhattan in the W,30's or W.40's under the elevated Westside Highway that was real busy 24/7.
 
Around my place, other than Waffle House, there's only one 24-hour diner. I think it gets by on the late-shift medical workers. I don't have the stomach nor enough ammo for Waffle House.
 
Another change is many/most all truck stops just offer fast food. I miss those big "anytime" breakfasts when I travel.

Retired now after 40+ years driving truck.
Most have been converted to fuel stops.
Very hard to find an old fashioned truck stop anymore.
What always bothered me was the fast food joints refused to serve walk ups in their drive throughs .
 
The McDonalds nearest to me is supposedly 24 hrs.

Wife had an early flight to TX to visit her mom a couple weeks back. Dropped her off at the airport at 0330.

Driving home I thought Id get something for the dog and me to snack on.

Pulled into the McD at 0357. They still had the burger menu on the drive thru. No problem, quarter pounders are just as good as sausage mcmuffins. Well, the nice lady said that dinner was over, and they weren't serving breakfast yet.

I asked what time breakfast started, and she said 0400. I asked if she wanted me to wait the 3 minutes or take my order now. She replied that although breakfast "started" at 4am, they wouldn't be ready for some time.

No problem, another McD not too far.

Got to the 2nd one at 0406. It's also a 24hr franchise. The nice lady at that drive thru politely informed me that although dinner stops at 4am, breakfast wasn't available til 0430 and that the computer locks her out from even placing an order.

Guess it wasn't meant to be.

So, McDonalds is 23.5-hour service, I guess.


LOL...best story I've heard for years...
 
Only things open 24/7 here are Denny's, IHOPs, Whataburgers, and convenience stores. Everything else closes at 10 or 11 these days. Up until COVID we had several all night grocery stores and WalMarts, Now they mostly close at 11.
 
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Not a 24 hr establishment but there used to be a little Mom & Pop diner in Clairton that opened at 9:00 pm and closed around 5:00 am. An assortment of seniors, couples, mill hunks going in or coming off shift at the mill. Great food! Best cheeseburgers around, served on fresh Italian bread. If you ordered the meal it came with fries and a side salad , for $4.25. If you wanted a real treat you could get sautéed mushrooms for about $1.75.
Shortly after my wife had our daughter we went there after the mall closed. My wife was making the diaper into a makeshift bed when the one waitress came over and demanded to know what she was doing and my wife explained. Oh no Nancy the waitress said. Give her here. My looked at me and I nodded. Nancy too her around to every table and person in the place. Back through the kitchen to the staff. Just showing her off. Made me a real proud Pa-pa.
As many times as I ate the I don’t remember there ever being any trouble.
Sadly the elderly parents turned it over to their son and that was the beginning of the end.
 
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It has been a number of years since there was an all night diner 5 miles south in next City. We have a significant percentage of population that just doesn't stay up late, or go to bars. Am thinking the large supermarket in town is open 24/7, not sure about the quick trips (gas stations).

Some of the smaller restaurants are only open during tourpest season, and almost all are shut sunday nights.
 
Now this nostalgia train has got me thinking about driving 90 miles, one way, to a restaurant my dad always used to stop at. I swear he physically couldn't drive by without stopping. It's been almost 40 years since I've been there. It's not open 24 hours, but I may have to take a drive one day. Their sour cream raisin pie was fit for the Gods, back in the day. Wonder if it's still good?
 

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