Where did the 24 hour diner go?

lihpster · Mar 2, 2025

As a confirmed night owl since I was able to decide my own bedtime, I have spent my adult life doing things in the dark. Businesses that would stay open 24 hours were my go to's. Grocery stores, gas stations and restaurants to name a few.
But, most of these places are no longer 24 hours. Some changed their hours and some just closed up shop. Now finding a restaurant open all night is almost impossible. In my town, there's a couple of donut shops open all night, a few Mexican restaurants and, for a metro area of 2 million people, 4 Denny's. Maybe 3 grocery stores open at night. Even the Walmart Supercenters aren't open 24 hours anymore. I'm tellin' y'all, it sucks being Batman.

Golddollar · Mar 2, 2025

lihpster said:
Maybe 3 grocery stores open at night. Even the Walmart Supercenters aren't open 24 hours anymore. I'm tellin' y'all, it sucks being Batman.

Can't Alfred do the grocery shopping during the day?

lihpster · Mar 3, 2025

Golddollar said:
Can't Alfred do the grocery shopping during the day?

Yeah, but you wind up with spotted dick and Marmite. Blech!

oldbrownhat · Mar 3, 2025

We have one here - Rocko's Diner, opened in 1956 and still serving nostalgia

This in a little city of 40,000 50 miles east of Vancouver BC. It's been used for film shoots, too. No idea what's open 24/7 in The Big City these days.

I'm getting hungry just looking at the pics

S-W4EVER · Mar 3, 2025

During Covid a lot of businesses restricted hours or went out of business. A lot of employees got comfortable being paid for not working. What I grew to miss when I was still on the job was all-night service stations, they sure came in handy when the ‘troller needed minor repairs.

UncleEd · Mar 3, 2025

I feel for you.

Even the big, big cities that "never sleep" are on snooze.

Here in the South we do have Waffle House.

I think getting staff is a main problem plus the roaming low lifes
who can't earn a living stealing in the day time.

lihpster · Mar 3, 2025

I think here it was a combination of things. Covid, the homeless situation and the "defund the police and decriminalize drugs" attitude all played their parts. As did Doordash and Uber Eats. There's just something about being able to pull on a t-shirt and some jeans at 3:30AM and go get some greasy food and a cup or 3 of coffee. Maybe even get a thermos filled up, if you have something to do in the morning.
I remember going hunting with my father. We'd get up way too early and stop at the diner for breakfast and way too much coffee. BS with the other hunters and the cops, get our thermoses filled and wait for sunrise. I wasn't old enough to hunt myself, but I went along to help as I could, for we were seeking food for the table, and I preferred to eat. Still, at 10 years old, these men included me in their conversations and treated me mostly as an equal. Heady stuff for a 10 year old.
That's the nostalgia I'm looking for. Eating at a diner in the dark, anticipating the coming days activities. If I could go back in time and sit across from my brother and listen to him say, for the thousandth time, "You got your sense of adventure with ya?" while grinning ear to ear, eating bacon and eggs and swilling coffee, just one more time, I could drop dead in that booth with a smile. But you can't go back.

CH4 · Mar 3, 2025

lihpster said:
Yeah, but you wind up with spotted dick and Marmite. Blech!

There are places here in Nevada where you can get spotted dick 24 hrs a day. I think they serve nachos too.

lihpster · Mar 3, 2025

CH4 said:
There are places here in Nevada where you can get spotted dick 24 hrs a day. I think they serve nachos too.

You're not selling it.

oldbrownhat · Mar 3, 2025

CH4 said:
There are places here in Nevada where you can get spotted dick 24 hrs a day. I think they serve nachos too.

"Spotted dick, nachos and a Bud." Fusion cooking, Nevada style? Aaarrrrgghhh

Alk8944 · Mar 3, 2025

Pretty much because businesses that used to operate 24 hours a day lose money because their employees cost too much for what the business made during those late night hours! Quite a few years ago I worked for Walmart when they were staying open 24 hours during the holidays. Often I didn't see a dozen customers in my department all night many nights.

Narragansett · Mar 3, 2025

I think most of the 24 hour businesses are along interstates. I would consider it dangerous to run a night time business. People get robbed and shot during those hours.

Ivan the Butcher · Mar 3, 2025

Narragansett said:
I think most of the 24 hour businesses are along interstates. I would consider it dangerous to run a night time business. People get robbed and shot during those hours.

In about 2007, I got called out at 3AM for an emergency service call. On my way home I stopped at a Waffle House for some breakfast. (my wife was out of town visiting a new grandkid).

When I walked in, they got real nervous seeing a non-regular customer. I opened my mouth and said, "Two eggs over easy, double hash browns in a ring, covered and smothered. Cream in the coffee and whole wheat toast." That marked me as a regular somewhere, and they all relaxed.

When I was reading Reclaimed Dump subsurface gas wells, I loved starting a 3 AM and being done working for the day at 0500! I also got to know most of the night patrol cops in that town. Once they realized I was working instead of homeless, they were great to get along with. I'd get back home and take a nap, meet friends for a 20-mile+ bike ride at 0900 and have lunch at a "Country & Western Sports Bar" (those aren't easy to find!). My wife got home at 1430 (2:30) and we'd hit a Tuesday Senior Matinee for $5 a couple! and have pizza for dinner at 1700 and be lights out at 1900 (7pm). Nighttime running around isn't for everyone, but I liked the peace and quiet.

Ivan

mike4sigs · Mar 3, 2025

When i was working the overnight shift and rotated days every 3 months. i found it easier to just stay on the same sleep schedule on my days off. And stayed up and did my grocery shopping at 3 am. It did make it easier when the crowd was not there.

chief38 · Mar 3, 2025

I grew up in Queens NY, then and there were Diner's (Greasy Spoons) on every major intersection. In the town I lived in there were 3 or 4 to choose from. As teenagers it was common to roll into one at 1am for some eats. They were always opened 24/7, including New Years Eve! About the only Holiday I remember them closing for was Christmas. Standard fare was bacon and eggs, a cheeseburger, a BLT with greasy fries, waffles and ice cream, coffee and apple pie and let's not forget the malteds and milk shakes!

Where I live now we only have a few "true" Diners and IIR they are only opened to 10pm. In general the restaurants here close up at about 9pm.

dockmurgw · Mar 3, 2025

CH4 said:
There are places here in Nevada where you can get spotted dick 24 hrs a day. I think they serve nachos too.

Does it come with a side of penicillin?

soFlaNative · Mar 3, 2025

Jack's Diner (formerly Freddie's) on US1 was a godsend when I worked a 1st (00-0800) shift or doubled overnight. 24/7 for the last 70 years, 5 egg omelets and early bird specials for normal folk. Lester's has been around since the 60's and opened a couple locations Ft. Lauderdale north but the original on SR84 near the tracks is still 24/7.

Baxter6551 · Mar 3, 2025

Others have mentioned it but I also think COVID and the current work ethic were the main factors.

CH4 · Mar 3, 2025

dockmurgw said:
Does it come with a side of penicillin?

Only at the classy establishments.

chief38 · Mar 3, 2025

Baxter6551 said:
Others have mentioned it but I also think COVID and the current work ethic were the main factors.

I agree somewhat. Many people who worked late night shifts began to work from home and after Covid, many of them continued to do so. Therefore they have no need to eat out.

The Diner's have also doubled their prices on most items since Covid. Many who used to view a Diner as a good meal value for descent food can now not afford to eat out. When I ate breakfast at Diners 7-8 years ago while out for a Sunday morning motorcycle ride with friends, breakfast would typically cost $13-$14 bucks a person. Today it is double!

Where did the 24 hour diner go?

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