Main Street at River Street just before it crosses the Passaic River on to Temple Street & Presidential Blvd.


Bender's Pork Store and Garden State Tool and Supply Co. are visible in this picture taken in Paterson, NJ in 1954

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Hogans Dining - HogansDining.com - history and connections - what is going on here?

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Hogan's Restaurant 6450 Telegraph Road Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301 Machus Red Fox Restaurant: former Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa was last seen alive; located at 6676 Telegraph Road in Bloomfield Hills. It was approximately 2pm on July 30, 1975, when patrons of the Red Fox recall seeing Hoffa at the restaurant and in the parking lot. It was around that time when Hoffa arrived at the establishment to have a pre-arranged meeting with  Anthony Provenzano and Tony Giacalone. Evidently, the others had not arrived yet, so Jimmy called his wife to tell her he was stood up (It's believed he went downstairs to make the call). “I'll be home around 4” he said...and that was it. The FBI claims Hoffa left the restaurant in a Mercury Marquis sometime between 2:45 and 3pm. He was never heard from or seen again. The Red Fox Restaurant: Where Jimmy Hoffa Was Last Seen Alive | https://99wfmk.com/hoffa-last-seen-red-fox/ Businesses at 6676 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI It turns out H...
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The Closing of Good Time Charlie's: End of an Era in San Antonio

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In the heart of San Antonio, where the bustling Broadway Corridor meets the serene edges of Brackenridge Park, a beloved institution has quietly shuttered its doors. Good Time Charlie's, the iconic bar and cafe at 2922 Broadway, served its last plate of chicken-fried steak on October 22, 2025, marking the end of a 46-year run that defined comfort, community, and casual dining in the Alamo City. For generations of locals, it wasn't just a restaurant; it was a second home, a place where memories were made over cold beers and hearty meals. The closure, announced the following day, came as a bittersweet surprise to many, signaling not only the loss of a culinary staple but also the shifting landscape of a growing city. Founded in December 1979 by lifelong friends Millard Stetler and Eddie Ruffo, Good Time Charlie's began as a modest live music bar, tapping into the vibrant cultural scene of late-1970s San Antonio. Stetler and Ruffo, who met as students at Jefferson High School,...
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The Red Rose Diner located at Towanda, Pennsylvania Closed on August 31, 2017

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The Red Rose Diner, a quaint relic of America's roadside dining heritage, stood as a testament to the enduring charm of classic diners amid the ebb and flow of economic pressures, ownership changes, and community loyalty. Located in Towanda, Pennsylvania, this 1927-built structure has weathered nearly a century of transformations, from its origins in another town to multiple closures and reopenings. Once boasting its own website at RedRoseDiner.com, the diner has seen its digital presence fade alongside periods of physical dormancy. It's journey is one marked by resilience and uncertainty. This article delves into the diner's rich history, and some factors leading to its ups and downs. The historic exterior of the Red Rose Diner in Towanda, showcasing its vintage architecture and signage. Origins and Early Years: A Pioneer in Diner Design The story of the Red Rose Diner begins in 1927, when it was constructed by P.J. Tierney and Sons in New Rochelle, New York. Originally na...
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Ignite Your Mornings with a Piece of Hot Springs History: The Firehouse Diner & Pump Room Lounge Coffee Mug

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Imagine cradling a steaming cup of joe in a mug that doesn't just hold your brew—it holds a story. A tale of sizzling bacon on chrome griddles, neon signs flickering through steamy windows, and the hum of late-night conversations in a town where the waters run hot and the memories run hotter. Introducing the Firehouse Diner and the Pump Room Lounge Coffee Mug from Skyway Diner's exclusive "Places Not There Anymore" collection. For just $7.99, this isn't merely a vessel for your caffeine fix; it's a time capsule to Hot Springs, Arkansas' golden era of roadside romance and unfiltered Americana. Picture this: It's the mid-20th century in Hot Springs, AK—that sultry spa city nestled in the Ouachita Mountains, where gangsters rubbed elbows with celebrities under the glow of Bathhouse Row. The Firehouse Diner wasn't just a stop on Central Avenue; it was the heartbeat of the night. Housed in a quirky converted fire station (or so the legends whisper), it ...
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History of Matthews Diner & Pancake House. located at 430 South Washington Avenue in Bergenfield, New Jersey (Formerly Associated with matthews-diner.com)

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History of Matthews Diner & Pancake House (Formerly Associated with matthews-diner.com) The diner in question is Matthews Diner & Pancake House, a classic American eatery located at 430 South Washington Avenue in Bergenfield, New Jersey. This establishment was the primary user of the domain name matthews-diner.com, which served as its official website for online presence, including contact details, menus, and reservations. The site is now inactive or redirected, aligning with the diner's closure around 2020–2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the restaurant industry. Below is a chronological overview of its history, drawn from local news archives, reviews, and historical records. Founding and Early Years (1967–1980s) Opening (June 1967): The diner was founded by six Greek-American brothers from the Matthews family, who immigrated to the U.S. and established it as a family-run business in Bergenfield, a diverse suburb in Bergen County. It started as a traditional...
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Red Rose Diner NJ formerly located at 1102 US Hwy 22 Phillipsburg, NJ 08865

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  Readers report the Red Rose Diner, 1102 US Hwy 22. Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 has permanently closed  The Red Rose Diner: A Faded Beacon of Comfort on Phillipsburg's Route 22 In the heart of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, where the Delaware River whispers secrets of industrial might and small-town resilience, stands—or rather, stood—a silver sentinel along U.S. Highway 22: the Red Rose Diner at 1102 US Hwy 22, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865. For years, this unassuming eatery served as more than just a pit stop for weary travelers crossing the Pennsylvania border; it was a thread in the fabric of local life, a place where the sizzle of bacon on the griddle mingled with the murmur of morning gossip. But as of late October 2025, the Red Rose Diner has shuttered its doors permanently, leaving behind a void in the landscape of classic American diners that once dotted New Jersey's highways like stars in a chrome-plated sky. This article delves into the diner's storied past, its vibrant present ...
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The History of Restaurants, Diners, and Lounges Named "Skyview" or "Sky View"

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The name "Skyview" or "Sky View" evokes images of elevated perspectives, panoramic vistas, and a sense of escape from the ground-level hustle. This nomenclature has been adopted by various eateries worldwide, often capitalizing on their lofty locations in airports, skyscrapers, or high-rise buildings. These establishments typically promise not just meals but immersive experiences where diners can gaze upon cityscapes, runways, or horizons while savoring food and drinks. The history of such venues spans from mid-20th-century innovations in airport dining to modern lounges in bustling metropolises. While not exhaustive—many local or short-lived spots may evade records—this exploration highlights notable examples, tracing their origins, evolutions, and cultural impacts. One of the earliest and most iconic uses of the "SkyView" name in dining history is the SkyView Dining Room at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). Opened in December 1953 as part of a $1...
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The History of the Madison Diner: A Journey Across Time and Coasts

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The Madison Diner, a gleaming relic of mid-20th-century American roadside culture, stands today on Bainbridge Island, Washington, as a testament to resilience, nostalgia, and entrepreneurial spirit. Its story begins not in the Pacific Northwest but in the bustling suburbs of post-World War II Pennsylvania, where it was born amid the era's diner boom. Constructed in 1948 by the Fodero Dining Car Company—a renowned manufacturer based in Bloomfield, New Jersey, known for its stainless-steel prefabricated diners—the structure embodied the optimistic, streamlined aesthetic of the time. Diners like this one proliferated across the United States in the late 1940s, fueled by economic recovery, increased automobile ownership, and a growing appetite for quick, affordable meals. These establishments were more than eateries; they were social hubs, offering 24-hour service, hearty comfort food, and a sense of community in an increasingly mobile society. Originally christened the Willow Grove Di...
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The history of the Pulaski Skyway in New Jersey (the Skyway Diner was under it!)

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The Pulaski Skyway stands as an iconic engineering marvel in northern New Jersey, stretching 3.5 miles across the industrial landscape between Newark and Jersey City. This elevated roadway, part of U.S. Routes 1 and 9, rises dramatically over the Passaic and Hackensack Rivers, symbolizing the ambitious infrastructure projects of the early 20th century. Built to alleviate traffic congestion and facilitate the movement of goods and people in the bustling Port of New York area, the Skyway has endured as a vital transportation artery, carrying around 74,000 vehicles daily despite its age and ongoing challenges. Its history reflects the evolution of American highway design, from innovative beginnings to persistent safety concerns and extensive modern rehabilitations. The origins of the Pulaski Skyway trace back to the 1920s, when rapid urbanization and the demands of World War I exposed the inadequacies of existing transportation networks. The Port of New York, handling one-fifth of the na...
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The Empire Diner in Parsippany, NJ

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  Straddling the frenetic flow of Route 46 in Parsippany, New Jersey—where the Garden State Parkway's ramps disgorge commuters like a mechanical exodus—the Empire Diner at 1315 US Highway 46 stood as a stainless-steel survivor for over 75 years, its neon glow a defiant pulse in Morris County's commercial thicket. Originally christened the Par-Troy Diner around 1947, this prefabricated powerhouse, likely a Silk City or early Kullman model, arrived amid the postwar diner boom, its curved chrome facade evoking the optimism of tailfin Chevys and Levittown blueprints. Reborn as the Empire in the 1970s—perhaps a nod to imperial portions or the Shizas family's Greek heritage—it anchored Parsippany's bustling township of 55,000, a diverse hub woven from corporate parks, Smith Field's soccer fields, and the shadow of the old Par-Troy airport. For truckers dodging the Turnpike's tolls, families fleeing Montville's cul-de-sacs, and night owls from nearby Rockaway's...
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