email: roadarch@outlook.com

Texas Diners

(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)

former Valentine diner
Amarillo, TX
2017: 2024:
This former Valentine diner has been boarded up and vacant since at least 2010. By 2022, the siding had been removed revealing the rough state of the diner underneath. [map]

El Padrino
Dallas, TX

2011:
2017:
El Padrino is housed in a Valentine Diner from 1949. The interior features the original cabinets and wall safe. The diner was painted pink and blue in 2007. In 2015, the diner was painted blue and orange. [map]

Wingfield's Breakfast & Burgers
Dallas, TX
Wingfield's Breakfast & Burgers is housed in a Valentine Diner, built in the early 1960s. It has been Wingfield's since around 1994. [map]

Carla's Diner
Estelline, TX
Carla's Diner is another Valentine diner. It has gone by different names over the years including the "Hungry Valentine Diner" and "Paula's Slow Down Diner". The diner was previously located in Memphis, TX. These photos are from 2011. By 2022, the business was known as Pearlie's Diner. For more, see this website. [map]

Little Juarez Diner
Glenrio, TX
The Little Juarez Diner was built on-site to look like a Valentine diner. However, this building was made from cinder blocks. Valentine diners and other "true" diners were built and shipped to their sites. The Little Juarez Diner has been abandoned for many years. For more, see this website. [map]

Sugar Cookie Confections (now Downtown Scoop)
Lufkin, TX
Sugar Cookie Confections is housed in a Valentine Diner, probably from the 1950s. This business opened in 2010. The building previously housed the Downtown Diner. In 2022, the diner began housing Downtown Scoop, an ice cream shop. [map]

former Cafe Viejo San Juan
Waco, TX

2011:
2018:
The Cafe Viejo San Juan occupied this Double Deluxe Valentine diner in 2011. It was previously known as Fran's Diner and El Pollo Norteno. By 2013, the building had been painted white and red. It was vacant again. By 2016, the windows were boarded up. The building remains vacant. [map]

Hullabaloo Diner
Wellborn, TX
The Hullabaloo Diner is a DeRaffele diner from 1950. It was originally installed Albany, NY where it was known as Reilly's Diner. It was later known as Little Nick's, Carol's and Wolff's Diner. In 2005, it was moved here. For more, see this website. [map]

Pioneer Diner (now Connect Packing & Shipping)
Wichita Falls, TX
the "green diner":
the "red diner":
The Pioneer Diner opened in 2005 as the Pumpjack Diner. The Pumpjack closed in 2006 and reopened in 2008 as the Pioneer Diner. There are two fully-restored diners at this location. The "green diner" is the former Brandywine Diner, a 1954 Mountain View from Wilmington, DE. The "red diner" is the former Gatehouse Diner, a 1955 O'Mahony from Dayton, OH. Both were restored by Steve Harwin of Diversified Diners. Just a month after these photos were taken in 2011, the Pioneer Diner closed. The diners were still vacant in 2016. In 2017, the diners reopened as the Sidecar Brewery but that business lasted less than a year. The diners were still vacant in 2018. In 2019, one of the diners opened as Emanuel #3 restaurant. Both diners are now housing Connect Packing & Shipping. [map]

Diners Main Page