Les Daniel and Henry Strys founded the Mountain View Diners Company in Singac, New Jersey in 1938. From 1938 to 1957, the company produced around 400 prefabricated restaurants. Though of simple design, many are still in operation, proving that their motto “A Mountain View Diner will last a lifetime” still holds true today. When you think of a classic 1950s diner, a Mountain View probably comes to mind.
The 29 Diner, at 10536 Fairfax Blvd in Fairfax, Virginia, is a 1947 Mountain View, and its original owners were D.T. “Bill” and Elvira “Curly” Glascock. It was known as the Tastee 29 Diner in 1992 when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. A former waitress and her husband, Ginger and Fredy Guevara, purchased the diner in the 1990s and restored its original name. They owned it until 2014, when it was bought by John Wood.
Route 66 Diner, at 950 Bay Street in Springfield, Massachusetts, is a 1957 Mountain View, one of the last manufactured by that Signac, New Jersey company. Originally called the Bay Diner, owner Donald A. Roy bought it in 1975 and the restaurant is managed by his brother-in-law, Charlie Allen.
Crazy Otto’s Empire Diner, 100 W Albany Street, Herkimer, Herkimer County, New York, was voted Readers’ Choice Best Upstate New York Diner. Crazy Otto’s is a 1952 Mountain View. They serve the “world’s largest omelet,” and the diner’s neon lights look great at night too.
Sally’s Diner, at 25 Peninsula Drive in Erie, Pennsylvania, at the entrance to Presque Isle State Park, is part of Sara’s Restaurant and campground. It is a 1957 Mountain View, #522. Like many diners, it served under several names and in several locations. It was originally Serro’s Diner in Norwin, Pennsylvania, then Morgan’s Eastland Diner in Butler, Pennsylvania. Finally, Sean Candela purchased it in 2003, moved it to Erie, and named it after his mother.
Lake Effect Diner, at 3165 Main Street in Buffalo, New York, is a 1955 Mountain View (model #446). Tucker and Erin Curtin brought the classic stainless steel diner from Wayne, Pennsylvania to Western New York in 2002 and carefully restored it to its former glory. It was originally called the Main Line Grille and later the Wayne Diner. Guy Fieri featured the diner in Season 7 of his Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
M.A. Kleen 
2 replies on “Mountain View Diners”
Cool!
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This was the Trolley car dinner. A dinner made by the Mountain view dinner company
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