Contents

1. Minella's
2. Wayne Diner
3. Lindsey's
4. Notes

Minella's Main Line Diner

On June 12, 1964, Anthony and Minnie Amoroso opened the Colonial Diner for business on Lancaster Avenue in Wayne. The 1964 Fodero came in six prefabricated sections, two of which were the kitchen. In 1966 the diner was bought by restaurant innovator chain Horn and Hardart. After only three years, the restaurant was bought by Minella Zoto. Zoto started several other diners in the Philadelphia area, but this was his namesake. Minella's has operated under the same name since 1969.

It is said that in 1973 while giving a show at Villanova University, comedian, radio personality and "Christmas Story" creator Jean Shepherd visited the diner with some organizers of his visit. Undoubtedly, numerous other personalities ate there, but there are probably too many to list.

Minella's thrived throughout the decades, but changed hands in 1998. In 2002, the new owners applied for a liquor license to expand the restaurant's appeal. Later that year neighbors of the diner opposed the idea, and in January 2003 the Township denied the request. Soon after that it was revealed that the original Minella's diner building would be sold and moved to make way for a new building. The original buyer was from Ohio, but that deal fell through. Roger Hacker of Lake City, Florida, bought the diner to move to his town.

On May 15, 2003, the 1964 diner was finally picked up and moved to Lancaster. It was later transported to Lake City where it was rebuilt and renamed the Lake City Hilltop Diner. Construction began right away on the new building, brought to the site on sections built by DeRaffele. In October the famous diner reopened with a larger dining room but a similar ambiance. The popularity of Minella's Main Line Diner has kept up after all these years, and looks forward to many more.

Wayne History Online Photos
The Colonial Diner in its early days.		The new Minella's under construction, 2003.		The new Minella's under construction, 2003.
The brand new Minella's, shortly after completion, 2003.		The brand new Minella's, shortly after completion, 2003.		The brand new Minella's, shortly after completion, 2003.

Wayne Diner

The Wayne Diner, located on Lancaster Avenue in downtown Wayne, was a modular diner built in 1952 by the Mountain View company. The foundation of the building was built by local contractorsAlbert Coccagna and his brother Guido Coccagna, who assembled the modular units brought in by truck. Alnardo D'Ignazio and his wife first operated the diner. They sold it more than a decade later, at which point it became the Chinese restaurant called "China Buddha."

Eventually the restaurant closed, and the property was bought by Margaret and Warren Kuo with the intention of building a new restaurant. The old diner was sold to Tucker Curtain who spent $150,000 to restore the diner and move it to Buffalo, NY. He intended to open it as "Marge's Main Line Diner," named after his grandmother.

Wayne History Online Photos
The Diner shortly before moving, 2001.

Lindsey's

Lindsey's restaurant was located on Lancaster Avenue, between Gallagher and Sugartown Roads. Currently on the site is the McDonald's restaurant near Strafford. In the mid-1950's the building was sold and became the Orange Cleaners.

There is no known photographic evidence of the restaurant, though the drawing on the front of the menu is probably an accurate depiction.

Wayne History Online Photos
Is this vintage menu the only existing evidence of Lindsey's?

Notes

If you have any memories of any of these diners, please write in to share. Contact information can be found on the home page.