The guy sounds like a nice guy, and I hope he gets to start his diner. That said, if he wants his diner to last more than a year or two, he should take the money he was going to spend to ship in a rail car and put it in the bank to help him get through the lean times of a start up business. He should focus on finding a low overhead place that is not to big for what he wants to open, and focus on putting out high quality low cost food.

I grew up on small town diners and greasy spoons. They thrive on locals and regulars who spend 4 bucks a day on coffee and buscuits and gravy, not on destination diners spending 12 bucks per plate. Low overhead, a small space that feels warm and welcoming, and decent blue collar food. People might come in to eat in a dining car once. They may even like it and come back every few months. However this wont keep you in business.

As for the papers covering this stuff, who cares. None of the do much to report real unbiased news anyway. Low expectations are the key to managing disappointment.

Drive 10-15 minutes west on Seventh Street, toward the airport, and eat at Mickey’s on West Seventh. Same food, same prices, 24 hours, more booth space. No waiting, I guarantee it. And you’ll be closer to 494/Cedar to get yer ass back to the south metro. Which is a hell-hole, too, I guess.

Dude, do you EVER stop complaining? I realize complaining maybe shows engagement in your community and surroundings, but sheesh.

Skip the fucking dining cars then! And when you visit Mickey’s on West Seventh, and decide THAT sucks too, go next door to Famous Dave’s. Woops. There’s a couple of them south of the river, and they suck.

OK. Another quarter-mile and you’re at Chammpp’s. Woops …. I’ll agree (if you will) that an eight-dollar cheeseburger is a bridge too far, in St. Paul or Burnsville.

So the default position is the choke-and-puke Asian buffet in the same mall as Chammpp’s. Fucking right, it’s cheap, and I’ve eaten there many times, saving kwon while bulking up. Middle-wise.

As far as no one giving a shit what happens south of the river (your complaint), don’t you realize that two metro daily newspaper organizations and at least three community newspaper chains are trying to kick the shit out of each other? And if you think Coffee News COUNTS, obtain a clue.

As evidenced by Mickey’s in St. Paul.

After waiting in line for 45+ minutes.

As evidenced by Mickey’s in St. Paul.