Minneapolis Diner No Smoking Section

Lots of good looking stainless steel in here. Great photograph! The composition feels very relaxed, the light is very beautiful.
Where in Minneapolis is this? Name of the place? If you have it
- Thomas

Wow, I love diners. Great shot.

The diner doesn't exist anymore. It was located on Nicollet Avenue somewhere around 12th or 13th I think. The buildings on that block were demolished as part of the urban renewal project extending Nicollet Mall, best I can remember. I used to stop in here once in awhile for coffee and breakfast. When I heard it was closing, I asked if I could come back and take some photos. I think they were pretty surprised to see me come in with the view camera and throw the black cloth over my head!

Gary

Gary, thanks for sharing the particular details. I really enjoy your photograph. Knowing the details makes it even better.
Crawling under the dark cloth is something many people are surprised by... I get a kick out of that too.
- Thomas

Great photograph Gary. Interesting history. BTW, once you get settled back in the Twin Cities. We'll have to meet up with the local APUG crew? Thomas, George, Randy, Ike and I!

your picture is so evocative that I feel at home looking at this place eventhough I've never been there. great atmosphere from your composition. thanks for sharing

Andrew & Thomas,

I will be in the Minneapolis area the last week of October (my family lives in Maple Grove now, but I spent some of the best years of my life in south Minneapolis). I'd love to get together with anyone in the Twin Cities area. Living in Alaska always feels like I'm a long way from home....even though I've lived here since 1984.

To this day, I think this photo of the Minneapolis diner is probably one of the best I've ever made. Hard to believe it was so long ago....and made with a camera built in the 1950s. The lens was an old Zeiss Tessar 215mm that I picked up at a used camera store in the late 80s.

Gary Benson

Was the "No Smoking Section" 1 or 2 stools?

There's a nice feeling to this photo. Maybe it's the reflection on the table and the metal back splash that I like.

Back in the day.....when you were lucky to find a single booth or counter stool as "No Smoking". It made for a good photograph....but I'm glad the air is cleaner now.

Thanks for the positive comments everyone. Every once in a while we get lucky and a photograph comes out just right.

Gary