Curt, I just stumbled on to your marvelous posts with a Google search. I have stopped to admire the Cafe Dining Cars several times after first spotting it in about 1992. At that time there was a for sale sign out front. When I got home I called the number and spoke with a gentleman who told me that the parcel was large, and the asking price was high enough to crush any idle thoughts of buying it. I noticed the new homes out back on my last visit a year or so ago, so it looks like it eventually sold.
It is great that you were able to bring the place back to life for a day! If this ever happens again I would love to be there for the event.
After my last visit I dropped an email to Huell Howser and sent him a picture or two of the cafe; I never heard back. I think I will write again and send him the link to your thread. Seems to me that the cafe would make an interesting stop on one of his programs.
Curt, thanks to you we now know the history of Mr. Mullen's enterprise, the dates of operation and other fascinating stuff. Thanks so much for sharing all of this.
Steve Schell
stfrsc@juno.com
