Casual restaurants like diners and cafes fit the bill nicely. The rebirth of the diner is being fueled by a growing nostalgia for what is familiar and comfortable and by a dissatisfaction with the anonymous eating experiences of fast-food restaurants. Economically, the outlook may be questionable as consumers are watching discretionary spending. This, however, may be to the diner's advantage. Working families still dine out, yet they're more likely to choose a moderately priced diner over a fancy restaurant.
Diners represent competition for moderately priced chains and family-style restaurants.
There are esthetics to consider as well. The rebirth of the diner may be due to a growing nostalgia for what is familiar and comfortable. The Pink Cadillac Diner, located off of Interstate 81 in southern Virginia, is one example of the nostalgia theme. They cite market saturation by fastfood chains, consumers' value consciousness in a sluggish economy and 24 hour service at many locations. Founded in 1989, the chain numbers 10 diners in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, MD area, with an eleventh in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, which opened on November 25th.