Some History of The Triangle Diner
- Established in 1948:
The Triangle Diner has been a popular Winchester fixture since 1948. It is called the Triangle Diner because it sits on a triangular shaped piece of land at the intersection of South Braddock Street and West Gerrard Street -- across from Handley High School.
- Classic Architecture:
The Diner was built by famous diner designer Jerry O'Mahony in New Jersey and transported to Winchester by truck in the late 1940's. O'Mahony built over 2,000 pre-fabricated diner buildings, yet only a few remain in existence today across the United States. Most have been demolished and are now the sites of high rise office and condo buildings. The Triangle Diner is preserved at its original site, and serves as a unique original example of the true American diner architectural style - a style now copied by modern restaurant chains like the Silver Diner and others.
- Patsy Cline:
Country Music Hall of Fame vocalist Patsy Cline worked part-time at the Diner as a waitress when she was a teenager. At that time she was known by her original birth name, Virginia Patterson Hensley. She later described those years of her life as the time when she was "slinging hash", in other words serving food, and itching to get her music career going. She was born in Winchester in 1932 and went to Handley High School across the street from the Diner. She also worked at the soda fountain counter at the drug store on the other side of the Diner.
- Historic Restoration:
Over the next nearly two years, the Diner will undergo a complete historic restoration. We are using 1950's photos in order to authentically renovate the restaurant. In the 1960's, the owner covered the top half of diner in wood -- but underneath is the original stainless steel ornamentation. We are removing the wood and will be 'polishing' up the original stainless steel. We are also removing the sloped 1960's roof which was added on top of the original 1948 curved, painted copper roof of the diner.
- Have any old photos you can share with us?
If you have any photos you can share with us, please email us and let us know. We would love to see them! Old photos are essential to our restoration work.
Our Food and Our Goal:
After restoration, our goal is to provide a classic diner experience with absolutely outstanding food. Our menu will contain America's favorite foods, and all at reasonable prices.
Why are we doing it?
A true, classic diner experience is getting harder and harder to find in America. National chains do not provide 'home-cooked quality' food or the same good'ol classic American diner experience. A diner is supposed to be a place you can always get a really good meal at a reasonable price. We're bringing it back.