Featured in many movies and TV shows, the all-American diner has been a cultural staple for well over a century. The milkshakes, the aproned waitresses, and the checkered floor all add to the vintage appeal that keeps customers coming back. But where did these classic restaurants originate? Below, Belgian Waffle & Pancake House, of Branson, MO, shares the history of the traditional diner.

3 Historical Facts About the Classic American Diner

1. The Origins

The modern-day diner started as an early version of a food truck, with proprietors selling hot, all-American food from horse-drawn wagons. In 1872, Walter Scott, of Providence, Rhode Island, opened the first diner wagon, primarily serving the employees of the Providence Journal. Others quickly picked up on the idea and started successful lunch wagons of their own.

2. The Heyday

By the start of the 1900s, these convenient eateries became more established by moving into prefabricated buildings. They were mass-produced in factories and shipped by truck to the location, where they were easily set up. The traditional narrow diner architecture has stuck around from those days. Thousands of these joints were opened in the Northeast and Midwest by 1950.

3. The Legacy

With the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, diners took to the highways to serve the traveling public. Business boomed until the 70s when fast food chains started pulling customers away from the traditional diners. Some establishments changed with the times, adding new facades and more formal interior design, but others have done their best to preserve the institution. They continue to welcome clientele into chrome-gilded, vinyl-upholstered environments. 

Belgian Waffle & Pancake House in Branson is just one of these all-American institutions. While they’re known for their Belgian waffles for breakfast, they also serve lunch and dinner options that will delight the taste buds. Learn more about this diner by calling them at (417) 334-8484 or visiting their website.