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EAT-RITE Diner St Louis

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  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Louisville
  • 588 posts
EAT-RITE Diner St Louis
Posted by dbduck on Saturday, February 23, 2019 1:04 PM

I have always found EAT-RITE to be a  unigue part of St Louis as well as Americana      Located along historic Rt 66 

I am thinking about making it my next scratch built project.

I am trying to gleam approx dimensions from photos.   I am thinking the front is about 14.5-15 feet wide judging by the height of the door.. Looking at an overhead view on Google Maps 2d, it appears to be about twice as deep as wide..so maybe 30 ft

I am wondering if any local or nearby modellers have taken on the same task, or have a better idea of true dimesions

Thanks in advance for any help or info

 

 

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Posted by UNCLEBUTCH on Saturday, February 23, 2019 1:31 PM

I,ve never been there. But looking at the photo i think your numbers are darn close.

You don.t get mutch room for a kitchen and such in 20ft so that could be a little short.

IMO you don't really need to be right on . The window,doors,signs placement are more inportaint to portray a real building.

Looks like a neat build

  • Member since
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  • From: Louisville
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Posted by dbduck on Saturday, February 23, 2019 1:34 PM

I have since updated my estimate for the side walls to be about 30' based on an over head view from Google Maps...it looks to have a 2 to 1 ratio 

I have never been inside myself...but i understand  basically a counter with 12 stools  cooking area behind  also a juke box & pinball machine

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  • From: SE. WI.
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Posted by mbinsewi on Saturday, February 23, 2019 3:05 PM

I think your real close.  The front door is probably a 36" door, so I would say overall 16' across the front.

I didn't look at Google maps yet.

Mike.

EDIT:  On Google maps it measures 16'x 36'

Corner of Historic Rt.66, Chouteau Ave., and S.7th St.  It shows a picture on the inside of what it looks like.

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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, February 23, 2019 3:13 PM

When I use the "Measure Distance" tool on Google Maps, I also get 16' across the front and 36' from front to back.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
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Posted by mbinsewi on Saturday, February 23, 2019 3:17 PM

Same thing I did Rich, and I get 16' x 36'

Mike.

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, February 23, 2019 3:20 PM

mbinsewi

Same thing I did Rich, and I get 16' x 36'

Mike.

 

Mike, I was editing my reply as your posted yours. Yes, I get 16' x 36' too.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    November 2018
  • From: Just another small town in Ohio
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Posted by Erie1951 on Saturday, February 23, 2019 5:35 PM

Here's a link to more photos including interior shots.

https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/eat-rite-diner-saint-louis

Russ

Modeling the early '50s Erie in Paterson, NJ.  Here's the link to my railroad postcard collection: https://railroadpostcards.blogspot.com/

  • Member since
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  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
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Posted by gmpullman on Saturday, February 23, 2019 5:38 PM

RIX Products makes a handy scratchbuilding cement block wall sections:

https://rixproducts.com/product-category/pikestuff-ho/concrete-block-walls/

You could work in a thin veneer of common brick sheet for the front. I've used the Pikestuff wall sections and caps for several scratch/bash jobs. It is handy material especially since the corners mate up so nicely.

Hope that helps, Ed

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: California
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Posted by HO-Velo on Saturday, February 23, 2019 9:10 PM

Oh man!  Eat-Rite Diner just exudes character and Americana, not only a great photo, but great modeling choice as well.  I love the fire plug, distressed sidewalk, counter stools, and the waitress with the apron and bee-hive hairdo.

Micro Engineering detail kit #80-161 Office Windows and Doors contains a near dead ringer to the Eat-Rite door.

Thanks and Regards,  Peter 

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Louisville
  • 588 posts
Posted by dbduck on Saturday, February 23, 2019 10:20 PM

Thanks to everyone for their comments , input & information.

Love the comment about the waitress.. thats why I chose that particular pic...It was taken maybe 10 years ago. I have the photo on my flickr account... title of picture: "Break time at the EAT-RITE"

I believe a number of years ago a car ran into the right corner of the building & some of the brick work needed to be redone. May have taken the fire hydrnant out as well.

As greasy spoon as it may look, there is an "A" on their  Health Dept score card in the window...lol

 

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Posted by j. c. on Saturday, February 23, 2019 10:37 PM

FYI the top cap on the hydrant is 10 inches.

 

  • Member since
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  • From: SE. WI.
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Posted by mbinsewi on Saturday, February 23, 2019 10:54 PM

dbduck
Thanks to everyone for their comments , input & information.

So, you thinking of modeling it? Or is this all for fun?

Mike.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Louisville
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Posted by dbduck on Saturday, February 23, 2019 11:06 PM

It is seriously on my "to do" list

I happened by it about 10 years ago (when the top photo was taken)...it has always been a "favorite" of mine since

Everytime I am in St Louis ( i live in KY)

I have to drive by & check up on things

  • Member since
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  • From: California - moved to North Carolina 2018
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Posted by DSchmitt on Sunday, February 24, 2019 11:04 AM

Used measuuring tool on Google Earth

!8' x 35'

I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.

I don't have a leg to stand on.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
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Posted by mbinsewi on Sunday, February 24, 2019 12:28 PM

I wonder if a map of the original Route 66 through the St. Louis area excists?  I see on Google maps, what they call the original 66 ends just to the north of the Eat Rite, at Busch Stadium, and to the west, it just turns in Chouteau Ave.

I'll have to check it out.

Mike.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Sunday, February 24, 2019 3:52 PM

For anyone interested, I found this web site, it has a drawn map you can click on a enlarge.  Shows the route through St Louis, and the different bypasses and such through the years, also has the Eat Rite Diner.

https://explorestlouis.com/discover/route-66-in-st-louis

Mike.

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