Smyrna Diner - Smyrna, DE

The Smyrna Diner is among those built during the early 1960s. One Internet site states, "The Smyrna Diner, located in Smyrna, Delaware, was installed in 1965. It replaced a smaller one which had been at the same site since 1954." (1) A picture of the previous diner may be seen here. An exterior picture of the current diner is available in martysdomain's flickr photostream.

Smyrna's rustic exterior, which may be the result of renovations, is a departure from the stainless steel and large plate glass windows as typically seen in diners. It also follows the movement away from exteriors of steel toward more environmental materials. The vestibule includes an overhang reminiscent of a folded plate roof line. Compare the diner with the former Deerhead Diner of the same era.

After thirty-six years, Sandy Margist will soon shut the lights off one last time. As is often the case, she owns the diner, but not the land upon which it sits. A new diner is being constructed a short distance down the road, near the intersection of U.S. 13, and Delaware 1. Several articles last year spoke of the diner's history, planned closing and restoration by Diversified Diners of Cleveland, Ohio. Today's article has pictures of the diner and its new location. About 9.3 miles further down the road on North Dupont Highway is the Hollywood Diner, a 1954 Fodero.

Melrose Diner
by Chris_In_Philly_'08
and appears here under
Creative Commons license

Compare the corner of the current Smyrna with another Paramount diner, the Melrose Diner of Philadelphia, PA pictured at right. The Melrose is an example of an older Paramount diner with its trademark "wedding cake" corner.

When more information about the new diner's opening becomes available we'll post it here.




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Diversified Diners
Cleveland, OH

Hollywood Diner
123 N. Dupont Hwy.
Dover, DE
View Map / Send to GPS*

Melrose Diner
1501 Snyder Ave.
Philadelphia, PA
View Map / Send to GPS*

Smyrna Diner
304 N. DuPont Blvd.
Smyrna, DE
View Map / Send to GPS*


For more pictures of diners, we invite you to visit our flickr photostream here.