Richie Rock's Diner

**Richie Rock's Diner**, commonly referred to as **Richie's Diner**, is a small diner located at 212 Main Street in Blue Valley, Nebraska. It serves everything from pies and milkshakes to burgers. It is the only diner establishment in the small town.

## History

In 2017, Pat Dugan and Barbara Whitmore were the last two customers at Richie's and ordered the same food - a corn dog and banana split. Maria, their waitress, stated there was only one banana left, so Pat let Barbara have it. The pair ultimately split the ice cream and spent the rest of the night talking.

## Series

### Season 1

The Whitmore-Dugan family arrives in Blue Valley. They walk into the heart of the town, greeted by their residents as they stumble upon Richie's, the diner where Pat and Barbara met two years ago. Courtney asks why he was in Nebraska, where Pat ominously replies he was looking for something. One night, Rick walks down main street when he notices his drunken uncle harassing a waitress inside Richie's. The woman pushes herself off him, though he tries to keep her on his lap. Rick angrily punches the side mirror off Matt's truck, then proceeds to punch a dent in the side of the truck. Zeek's Junkyard later tows the car to The Pit Stop.

Jordan and Cameron go to Richie's Diner where the waitress brings over a piece of cake with a lit candle. She overheard them talking about someone's birthday and asks which one of them is celebrating. Cameron and Jordan exchange a remorseful look before Cameron slowly explains that it's his mom's birthday, with Jordan adding in that it *was* her birthday. The waitress realizes her mistake and apologizes profusely for the mistake, offering to take the cake away. Jordan tells her it's okay and to leave it so the waitress goes to a different table. He and Cameron have an awkward moment before Jordan slides the cake towards Cameron, telling him to make a wish for his mother. Cameron pauses then obliges, and very faintly, his breath can be seen blowing out the candle.

A few days later, Pat tries to praise Barbara on the way she recorded their conversations with the Mahkent's so they could translate it later. Barbara brushes it off, while her phone is translating the recording. The translation is ready, and Barbara and Pat listen to it: "I like her. You can see how Jordan looks at her. It won't matter soon. Once the machine is turned on, everything will change." Barbara asks Pat what machine they're talking about, and he says that he doesn't know.

Sam takes Courtney to Richie's for breakfast so they can talk and catch up on old times. Sam tells Courtney he spent the last years chasing business opportunities but they never worked out, and though he knows he's a stranger to her, invites her to stay in California with him. He finishes with it's all that he wants. Courtney, lost for words, just says yeah. Sam's confident they can figure it out, and Maria comes to ask for their order.

### Season 3

Richard continues his summer quest of getting Maria to make the perfect cup of hot tea. Maria anxiously waits as he tries her new brew. He barely contains his disdain, politely thanking her for the attempt, but suggesting that she's burnt it a bit. As she walks off, he tries to cleanse his palate. His attitude shifts when he senses Steven Sharpe, The Gambler's arrival. The two men have an intense conversation, with Steve ultimately leaving.

Sylvester and Pat confront Shade at the diner over his involvement in Steve's murder. The argument escalates with sylvester grabbing Shade by the collar, causing a scene. Pat pulls Sylvester away and they leave. Pat apologizes to Richard and the rest of the diner on his way out. Richard crosses his legs and asks Maria for a refill.

Sylvester returns for breakfast, taking a seat at the counter and sips a cup of tea, which he remarks is the best tea he's ever had. Maria proudly states she's told it's the best in America. As she waits on another patron, Yolanda asks how the food is He chipperly responds that the eggs are overdone, the toast is burnt, and who needs crispy hash browns when soggy is the way to go. He reads her name tag, Yolanda, and she adds her surname. He recognizes the name as belonging to the new Wildcat. They talk before she has to leave for a patron. Sofus and Lily Mahkent watch Sylvester from the window. Richie's is also one of the many locations under secret surveillance by the Voyeur.

Barbara and Pat enjoy a meal together and Maria, who waits on them, asks them to tell Zeek she says hi. The couple discuss Courtney's crush on an unknown boy until Crusher and Paula interrupt. He's pleased to see Pat eating sweet potato fries, which are a good source of Omega-3s. Pat sarcastically tells him to have a seat and make themselves at home. The couple gushes over their efforts to find Steven's killer, but Pat assures them it's not needed. When Crusher and Paula start making out, Pat calls for the check and a box. After a bad day, Courtney heads to Richie's for a chocolate milkshake. Maria asks if she's okay but Courtney simply gives her a tight smile. Cindy arrives and the girls discuss Cameron's new found powers.

Jakeem and Mike head to Richie's to ask Zeek for advice, and find the man enjoying a burger. One late night, Yolanda works her shift and answers a phone call from her mother, who critiques her for lying about working late shifts all the time. Yolanda can't talk right now, just as the power goes out across Blue Valley.

While trapped in The Shadowlands, Pat and The Shade visit a version of Richie's, where Shade confronts the guilt he feels about refusing to forgive Steven when he asked for it.

Mike and Jakeem have breakfast in their usual booth as they discuss their paper route and new superhero antics. Jakeem convinces Mike to deliver their newspapers first and leave the investigating to Courtney and her friends. Thunderbolt chimes into the conversation as the boys get ready to leave.

The Crocks pass Richie's on their daily morning run, this time, greeting Maria and a supplier. Crusher high-fives the supplier on his way past. That afternoon, the outside of Richie Rock's Diner shines brightly with pink light and when it dims, Jakeem and Mike have been teleported into a booth. Maria and the customers look around, confused over what just happened. A chocolate and vanilla milkshake materialize in front of the boys. They celebrate their wish working, slurping the shake. They breathe a sigh of relief. Thunderbolt laughs as he asks if they know that he totally forgot about - the gorilla. Mike sits up as he calls for the check.

Mike reconnects with his mother, Maggie Shaw, at the diner. They sit at a window seat and talk, hugging before Mike leaves.

## Employees

* Maria Carmen Saravia - Waitress
* Yolanda Montez - Waitress

## Notable Menu Items

* Banana Splits
* Cake
* Cheeseburgers
* Corn Dogs
* French Fries
	+ Sweet Potato Fries
* Iced Tea
* Milkshakes - Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry
* Pie
* Steak and Eggs
* Tea
* Toast
* Waffles (With strawberry jam)
* Hashbrowns

## Appearances

*Additional Season 2 appearances include a flashback in "*Summer School: Chapter Thirteen*".*

## Notes and Trivia

* This is the diner where Pat and Barbara first met.
* Film posters displayed on the wall inside the diner include *Them!*, *Royal Wedding*, *Giant*, *Rebel Without a Cause* and the Alfred Hitchcock films *Strangers on a Train* and *Dial M for Murder*.
* The address for Richie's is 212 Main Street, though it's unknown if the diner is North or South Main Street.

## References

1. ↑ "*Stargirl*"
2. ↑ "*Hourman and Dr. Mid-Nite*"
3. ↑ "*The Justice Society*"
4. ↑ "*Brainwave Jr.*"
5. ↑ "*Shining Knight*"
6. ↑ "*Chapter One: The Murder*"
7. ↑ "*Chapter Two: The Suspects*"
8. ↑ "*Chapter Three: The Blackmail*"
9. ↑ "*Chapter Five: The Thief*"
10. ↑ "*Chapter Six: The Betrayal*"
11. ↑ "*Chapter Seven: Infinity Inc. Part One*"
12. ↑ "*Chapter Eight: Infinity Inc. Part Two*"
13. ↑ "*Chapter Nine: The Monsters*"
14. ↑ "*Chapter Ten: The Killer*"
15. ↑ "*Chapter Thirteen: The Reckoning*"