I did service work for a utility with weekend work and callouts. As a gas man, summers were slow and winters could be 16-17 hour days with callouts keeping you out until after midnight or giving you a 4 Am start time. In a town of 30,000 you know real quickly where to find something to eat after normal hours.
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Where did the 24 hour diner go?
- Thread starter lihpster
- Start date
They’re in the metro NY/NJ area.
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
For years the Denny's 'Grand Slam' breakfast was $2.99. Of course the minimum wage was $3.35 per hour and eggs were 89 cents per dozen. Utility rates were probably half or less what are charged today, so keeping those lights on and grills going 24/7 was a little less expensive.
Today, if you want the equivalent of the old Denny's 'Grand Slam' (2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 bacon, 2 sausages) you may get a little change out of your $20 bill.
Most of the 1980s my job required several days on the road each week, and frequently a week at a time every month or two. I planned $100 per day for expenses to cover motel, gas, meals and that was usually pretty close. State fiscal rules allowed a maximum reimbursement of $34 per day for lodging, $5 breakfast, $6 lunch, $10 supper, and a receipt was needed to claim parking, tolls, etc. Last week I spent 5 days on the road and spent about $1500 living pretty modestly.
In restaurants the tips we left were usually pocket change, not folding money.
Of course, back in the 1960s Motel 6 was actually $6 per night. Super 8 charged $8 but every room had a TV (hence the names for those chains). By the 1980s I could usually find a motel room for under $30, unless I had to work a case in Aspen, Breckinridge or Vail during ski season.
Today, if you want the equivalent of the old Denny's 'Grand Slam' (2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 bacon, 2 sausages) you may get a little change out of your $20 bill.
Most of the 1980s my job required several days on the road each week, and frequently a week at a time every month or two. I planned $100 per day for expenses to cover motel, gas, meals and that was usually pretty close. State fiscal rules allowed a maximum reimbursement of $34 per day for lodging, $5 breakfast, $6 lunch, $10 supper, and a receipt was needed to claim parking, tolls, etc. Last week I spent 5 days on the road and spent about $1500 living pretty modestly.
In restaurants the tips we left were usually pocket change, not folding money.
Of course, back in the 1960s Motel 6 was actually $6 per night. Super 8 charged $8 but every room had a TV (hence the names for those chains). By the 1980s I could usually find a motel room for under $30, unless I had to work a case in Aspen, Breckinridge or Vail during ski season.
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"Nostalgia ain't what it used to be"
Nor the prices. I was thinking of Denny's, as there was one in downtown Vancouver BC when I lived there. I see it's moved but still open 24/7. But very different than the classic diners like Rocko's I posted above. I just looked up a 50's style diner in Vancouver that a gf (sigh...) & I used to go to for breakfast - Sophie's Cosmic Cafe - and I see it's still there. Only open 8am - 3pm but has a great vibe. Unapologetically 50's, very much like Rocko's.
GypsmJim
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Yeah, yeah, covid, work ethic, police defunded, yada, yada, yada. The REAL reason is simply MONEY.
If the business owner made a profit by staying open, he would stay open. Losing money is his main concern. Staying open for the convenience of a few customers is of no concern.
If the business owner made a profit by staying open, he would stay open. Losing money is his main concern. Staying open for the convenience of a few customers is of no concern.
BLACKHAWKNJ
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Here in NJ/Eastern PA diners have been disappearing for years. One where I used to go for Sunday Morning Breakfast before church-a bank there now, where a couple others were, a McDonald's and a Burger King, another one, a seafood place now. One I know of in North Jersey, the owner died suddenly, his heirs not interested in continuing it, another across the river in PA, owner retired, tried to sell it as a business, no takers, an office building there now, another diner over there, a fast food place. Here in NJ diners were the business of choice for Greeks, now the 2 I patronize regularly, owned by Turks.
As a Penicillin Mocha Latte
Good idea. Taken prophylactically?
We have a Denny's in the area of Manila where I live. The chef would make me my super, extra special French toast. I still find it strange to watch the locals eating milk fish (bangus) and rice for breakfast.
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375hh1973
US Veteran
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.
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.
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Umm.... I had to think about that a bit because the root of that word has a somewhat different connotation that I'm not going into here or I'll get infracticated by the mods
But, yes, in the broader medical sense. "A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down" etc. Given the outlandish variants that some coffee shops offer, it would barely raise an eyebrow.BLACKHAWKNJ
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My mother (b. 1913) told me in Lower Manhattan when there were far more newspapers than today and they required much more physical effort
and operated 24/7 there was a Catholic church know as the "Pressmen's Church", had masses at all sorts of weird hours. The Church's attitude was, if men had to go to work at off hours the Church would be there for them.
and operated 24/7 there was a Catholic church know as the "Pressmen's Church", had masses at all sorts of weird hours. The Church's attitude was, if men had to go to work at off hours the Church would be there for them.
Sometimes life is just 6-4 against (or, in this case, 4 1/2)
Clearly the computer is the problem! Not restaurants, but I've come across 2 businesses in Bellingham WA that write up orders ON PAPER
– Meridian Equipment Sales and Carlson Steel Works. How on earth can they manage? I'm sure they have to enter something in a computer somewhere but the "front end" is (anachronistcally) refreshing.
I've always loved Edward Hopper's 1942 "Nighthawks." Seems appropriate here:
Paintings You Should Know: ‘Nighthawks’ by Edward Hopper (1942) – The Culture Project
Paintings You Should Know: ‘Nighthawks’ by Edward Hopper (1942) – The Culture Project
lihpster;142183078 Now finding a restaurant open all night is almost impossible. In my town said:Donuts and Mexican. What else do you need?Larry
rockquarry
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Aren't many of those 24 hour eating places just greasy spoon joints?
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The heart wants what it wants.
I assumed it was the the changing of the guard, somewhat like Buckingham Palace.
The Burger crew gathers up their equipment and burgers while the vault is being opened. This occurs at 0400 every day.
At the same time, the oncoming Egg Brigade is removing their gear, taking inventory and prepping the Cooks on the daily menu.
Of course, during this vulnerable time the Security Detail made sure there was no left overs, cross over of food supplies and/or exchange of technical know how between the Burger Flippers and the Egg Brigade.
They also must be responsible to assure no orders can be taken
before their time and no money could be accepted.
Promptly at 0430 the vault is secured but it seems the Egg Brigade needs an additional 30 minutes to get the stoves hot, the bread warmed and the heat lamps tuned up.
The whole process seems to be repeated, in reverse, at 10:30am sharp.
Not sure why this daily dance of the products occurs. Is this to avoid cross contamination of food, make sure the smoothy machine was properly taken off line or just to PO the paying customers?
I would think there is a valid reason for this but may it is just that the Burger Flippers, Egg Brigade and Security have such a strong union they can insist on such a formal set of work rules.
rockquarry
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Let's hope the actual heart is up to such a healthful and wholesome gastric delight.
Another change is many/most all truck stops just offer fast food. I miss those big "anytime" breakfasts when I travel.
