Llanerch Diner – 95 East Township Line Road

Rebuilt around 1967 in "Picture Frame Design"

Owners

History

Contrary to popular belief, the Llanerch Diner isn't actually in Llanerch. It is located across Township Line Road from Llanerch, on the Kirklyn side of the street, in Upper Darby, in front of the old Bell Atlantic building. The earliest reference I can find to the diner is in the paper on May 20th, 1958, where they are requesting applications for a baker. Its original owner was Wilbur Gustafson, who also owned the properties of 104 Township Line Road and 112 Township Line Road.

Between at least 1961 and 1963, there was a bowling team most likely associated with the diner, if not at least inspired by it, who named themselves the Llanerch Diners under the Penn Jersey Major League. Known members of the team during those years include:

• Jim Hutchinson
• Bob Brooks
• Jude Dawson
• Bub Baldwin
• Rob Knabb

In 1968, an electrical fire was triggered in the basement of the building. It caused approximately $30,000 in damage ($280,000 in 2025). "American Diner Then and Now" classifies the redesigned building as a "picture frame" building due to how the logo of Llanerch seems to be framed in the convex wall.

Delaware County Daily Times, April 3rd, 1968, page 50

In 1987, the diner did a feature with the Inquirer for Thanksgiving day. Below are several images included from both the interior and exterior of the diner then.

Philadelphia Inquirer, November 26th, 1987, page 244 & 245 (click to enlarge)

In 1988, the diner was robbed of $540 ($1,500 in 2025). The perpetrator was quickly arrested.

Philadelphia Inquirer, April 7th, 1988, page 182 & April 28th, 1988, page 189

In 1989, there was a shootout at the restaurant between a disgruntled employee, Nicholas Santiago, and Gustafson. Both were shot, including Gustafson in the stomach, but both recovered in the hospital. Santiago eventually pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 4-8 years in prison.

Philadelphia Inquirer, January 2nd, 1989, page 12, January 26th, 1989, page 161, & October 18th, 1989, page 16

Exactly 2 months later, another incident at the restaurant occurred when a 19-year-old robbed the diner by throwing coffee in the face of his waitress. He was captured and charged.

Philadelphia Inquirer, March 2nd, 1989, page 199 & March 9th, 1989, page 215

Proving certainly a hectic period for the establishment, in 1990, a drunken man was arrested for assaulting police officers in the diner.

Philadelphia Inquirer, November 29th, 1990, page 261 & June 20th, 1991, page 202

On a much lighter note, in 1991, the diner hosted a 100th birthday celebration for centenarian and friend of the Gustafsons, Frances Warner Lyons. She was born on September 11th, 1891, and died on April 30th, 1995 at the age of 103. She lived on Midvale Road in Upper Darby.

Philadelphia Inquirer, September 15th, 1991, page 431 (click to enlarge)

The diner was host to the infamous diner scene of 2012 Jennifer Lawrence & Bradley Cooper film, Silver Linings Playbook. The diner proudly sells merchandise (at least as of the last time I went there) from the movie, and has a plaque adorned on the wall of the booth in which Lawrence and Cooper sat for the movie.

In July 2017, one morning at 5:30 AM, a grill caught fire, and the building sustained serious damage in the ensuing spread of the fire. Initial reports from the owner stated that he hoped to reopen within the week, but didn't reopen until December due to installing new kitchen equipment and following safety inspections. In 2024, Inquirer columnist Stephanie Farr listed the diner as one of the top spots in a reccomendation for where a potential Kamala Harris town hall would be held. Unfortunately, Farr's opinion did not gain traction and the diner remained town hall-less.

You can visit the website for Llanerch Diner here.

Gallery

Below are photographs from 2002 and 2006 of the Inquirer respectively. All contain candid photographs from Llanerch Diner from various articles not necessarily relevant to this page, but it is still nice to have interior reference photos. Each can be clicked to be enlarged.