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Stopped by a retro diner in Ohio and it got me thinking about 50s authenticity
I visited Mel's Diner in Youngstown last weekend, and they've got this huge neon sign and chrome everything, but they were playing 80s music over the speakers. It made me wonder: does a place have to be 100% period accurate to capture the 1950s vibe for you, or is the overall feel good enough? The server said they update the jukebox to keep younger customers happy, which I get, but it kind of broke the mood for me. What do you all think should a retro spot stick strictly to the decade or can it mix in modern touches?
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sarahsullivan1d ago
Did the whole place smell like old grease and coffee at least? I was at this burger joint in Pennsylvania that had a 50s theme but they had a flat screen TV playing music videos from like 2015, totally threw me off.
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wrenwilson1d ago
That mismatched TV thing always bugs me. Did at least the music videos fit the 50s style, or was it like a Katy Perry video playing while you're sitting in a vinyl booth with a jukebox in the corner? Seems like someone just bought a cheap flat screen and didn't think about what to play on it. I've seen places try to fake a retro vibe with random pop songs and it just makes the whole place feel like a movie set that gave up.
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