Above - A classic 1940's Flushing Diner at what would be present day 150th Street & Northern Boulevard

Flushing, NY which began as  rural pastures in the early part of the century would fully transition to a suburban area by century end and during that time period  diners became common throughout the area.  This article seeks to look back at the diners of Flushing.  An eatery trend  began in the 1920's reached its peak in the 1980's and slowly dwindled to the present day where such establishments are far from common as they once were.

In the early 20th Century the trend of dining out for cheap eats which began with customers flocking to moving wagons in the prior century morphed into stationary establishments that served patrons indoors  .  'Diners' as they came to be known began to populate the landscape of America in serious fashion and by the end of WWII stationary eateries sporting stool chairs, counter tops, porcelain tiles, and/or leather booths were common throughout the country.  

One of the earliest Flushing diner's was the Capitol Diner which was located at Lawrence Street & Northern Boulevard.  The Capitol was located at what was the main area hub of commercial activity in the newly developing Flushing area with the Whitestone Rail Road Station within walking distance and a trolley pickup location on Lawrence Street.



East Side of Northern Boulevard at Lawrence Street - Circa 1930