Historic Moondance Diner

We plan to use the category of diner dishing to give you little tidbits of information about what you can expect at Moondance Diner. When we are open and serving, you will be able to find details on many of the fun experiences we will offer.   A few items to watch for are Sunday Menus, Monday Madness and Wednesday Happy Soda Hour so stay logged on. For now, I am taking the opportunity here to tell you a little about what I’ve been up to.  In April I became a member of Team Moondance.  Most of my experience is in numbers but a lot of my passion is in the creative areas like menu design and recipe development.  I have been diligently working in the wings over the past four months analyzing food costs, budgets and menu prices as well as developing our signature look for our menu.  I am preparing for training on a new point of sale system and learning about inventory.  I may not know from day to day the tasks I will be asked to tackle which makes it all that more interesting. I am grateful my role in Team Moondance provided me a flexible schedule and chance to spend this summer with my kids by working from home. Both my sister and I grew up with generations of excellent cooks.  Our mother and grandmother exposed us to delicious cooking at early ages and when we were in high school, we spent summers cooking for my aunt on her guest ranch.   So many memories were made with our family around a great meal at the big dinner table. Cooking at home and running a restaurant have stark contrasts but our motives for the diner are similar.  We want to provide our guests with a memorable experience as though they happened to show up at the house around dinner time and we are inviting them to join us.  We appreciate the company and the conversation. We can’t wait to meet you or see you again, whichever the case may be!

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Vince has been keeping an eye out for a soda fountain to complete the Moondance Diner. In July he came across one on E-bay and contacted our Aunt, Toni David, whom is very familiar with E-bay. She won the bid for us and we immediately made arrangements with the owner of the soda fountain to pick it up. We knew it’s size (a perfect fit for our limited Diner space) and that it was anitque yet re-conditioned. It is an All-Dry Bastian Blessing complete with an ice-cream dipping compartment and two soda jerks. It also has dipping wells for all the toppings. Each ceramic well indicates whether is holds caramel, hot fudge etc etc. It needs some TLC… cleaning and shining up the stainless steel. The compressor runs well and we hope that it will be a intriguing focal point at the Diner. We appreciate our newest acquaintences in Wisonsin…. Harold Heopner and his niece Diane Poushe. After purchasing the unit at a rummage sale about 20 years ago, Harold intended on using it in his home but never got the opportunity. He and Diane have stored it ever since. Vince, Mathiew, Ruby and I will fondly remember our trip to Wisonsin…. it was a well-needed family get-away. Harold was not available the day we loaded up the Soda Fountain but made certain that his niece Diane and neighbor were there to help us out. We thank them kindly and look forward to their visit to Moondance so that we can serve them their favorite ice cream treat!

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Part of our goal with Moondance Diner from the beginning was to re-store/re-construct the integrity of the structure while incorporating as many of the original components (asthetic or otherwise) as possible. When we removed the stainless steel siding from Moondance to re-store and repair the framework for the walls; we discussed how we could use it to re-side the Diner once that point in time arrived. Prior to re-locating the Moondance Diner; the riggin’ company in NYC had to remove it from the sidewalk at it’s location in SoHo. This unveiled a 1 foot portion a long the entire bottom of the Diner that was not sided with stainless. We determined that it would be better to re-side the Moondance with new siding rather than trying to patch together new and old siding to create a ”seamless, shiny and weather-worthy exterior”.  We found a company in SLC that could manufacture siding that resembled the original steel and have kept the characteristically scarred siding to include inside the Diner in some very creative ways. Ofcourse this is one of the many surprises we hope to keep under wraps until our opening.

Don Hacklin and Shylo Jenkins withstood the hot July temperatures to cut & custom fit the stainless steel trim for the doors and windows and some of the sign housing. Once the trim had been secured each piece of siding was attached. This process meant handling the super-hot stainless not to mention how it’s bright reflection created additional challenges those few days. I do have to say that their efforts are certainly worth it. This is one of the final exterior elements that defines Moondance Diner and its family of classic stainless eateries. We are awaiting a few additional pieces of trim to finish the south side…. so it may be “hot to handle” part deux.   The sign also got it’s crowning glory as it was capped with stainless trim; this finishing touch were the efforts of Don Hacklin and Walter “Bo” Bohannon.  

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Upon the Diner’s quiet Wyoming reception….. we planned what elements to include in addition to the Moondance Diner itself in order to facilitate quality food and service. One of course was a commercial kitchen addition and the other was outdoor seating…. keeping in mind the warm Wyoming summers and beatiful autumn evenings.  After sketching and re-sketching some ideas I came up with a concrete patio. “I think it should be a half circle; moon-shaped?; enough room for some small tables, benches, possibly a band, grill…..” my mind stretched with the possiblities. This patio would mean extra seating and a place for fun events the Moondance will have the opportunity to host.

A few weeks before scheduling the concrete pour we tossed some ideas around as to how to make it a unique feature; possibly incorporating stamping or colors? Our G.C. Don Hacklin thought of a friend whom he’d worked with in California whom may want to come to Wyoming to help form a few design elements that could be poured with concrete dyed with colors of our choosing. Vince spent a morning over at the Moondance to help lay-out a moons and stars pattern to be formed then poured. Don’s friend Jake made the journey to La Barge for a week and formed and assisted with the pour. It was interesting to see the design take shape. This will be a much enjoyed aspect of Dining at the Moondance! Vince asked that plans for a natural gas heating element be included so that one can enjoy the patio while sipping cider ;a truly divine scenario for a crisp October evening.

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Our kitchen addition arrived in great spirits…. a long trip from Kansas was not quite the journey Moondance took last August. We worked with a company in Riverton Wyoming to design a 16×70 structure to serve as a commercial kitchen for Moondance Diner. One may be puzzled by its size. Yet after careful consideration (and knowledge of how quickly I can fill empty space with furniture and appliances) I decided that storage would be crucial. Plans for walk-ins and plenty of dry storage meant the ability to keep customers satisfied and an uncompromised till; eliminating the tempatation to use money from the till to re-stock items we’ve run short on because of inadequate storage! I have done some research about restaurants and storage may not ever be enough. We have an office area, baking center, chef’s nest, warewashing, utilities, and finally a roomy restroom one will find clean enough to wash their hands in! (a little bantor as to the cleanliness of some public restrooms)   We have some elements to add to it’s interior to meet commercial codes. It will be a great day when it is complete so we can begin moving in applicances we have been storing since December of 2007.  I have grand plans for this kitchen…. it is where the great food begins.

Once the addition arrived it had to be craned onto it’s already poured foundation (this was planned and poured back in February). A local crane operator from Mountain States in Big Piney did an excellent job of lifting the addition and setting it….. this was another of many special moments for me. I was able to take video of this event as well as a local couple here in La Barge that took an interest in it that day. They have since given me a copy of the video…. capturing this special marriage between buildings. ”You complete me?” Ring a bell. Okay that’s cliche but appropriate. Some finish work by Hack’s Construction and the buildings will be united; by construction standards more importantly.   

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No matter what season or time of day…. the view from Moondance Diner will be exceptional.  In addition to the signature  barrel roof; the amount of windows at Moondance Diner was another important feature. Of course one’s view here in La Barge is completely different than one’s was as the Diner was home in downtown Manhattan last summer…. we hope to accomplish some similarity by recreating a familiar scene looking into Moondance Diner. Locals sipping coffee, workers enjoying a hot breakfast and a hearty “lunch to go”. Possibly some our most recently made friends from New York and abroad who have made their way along 189 just to say ”best of luck”.  Maybe there will also be students stopping by after school  for yummy ice cream specialty or newlyweds sharing a great moment over a divine dinner!

  Using several of the original window frames, a Green River Glass Company was on board with the installation of the the glass. We added a window in our Moon Room addition of the Diner. There are 3 doors… one door allows access to our back patio, the front door facing HWY 189 is a main entrance/exit and finally the third glass door on the south side of the Diner was re-born. At one time this door was operable at the Moondance in SoHo; yet last summer when we moved the Diner here to Wyoming it was framed in to appear as a window. After removing some siding we discovered it’s true identity!  Ironically along the west wall of the Diner we also discovered a couple of ”hidden windows” which we decided to leave out of the restoration because that wall will be again covered in the classic ”cushioned” stainless. 

We plan to use a couple of the original glass (painted with the bright yellow moon and logo as was remembered last July in Manhattan) as an additional window on the south/west side of our kitchen addition.

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As I think about last summer and our concerns about re-locating the Moondance Diner; one of the considerations was how to break down the notably large sign and bring it back with the Diner. After discussing options with the moving crew (my husband and father), we determined it would be best to store it inside the Diner. The riggin’ crew made this disassembly their first task….. (of course after the first 200 tasks of permits and planning were checked off). We knew the importance of this sign and it’s significance to in Vince’s selection that day when viewing the American Diner Museum website for possible Diners we could afford to re-locate. It wasn’t until well after our efforts did we begin to realize it’s humble celebrity roots in movies and other media. After Moondance arrived in Wyoming; stripped of it’s grand sign and ecclectic NYC identity (geographically speaking),  we realized that the successful move of the Diner “structure” was only the beginning. As Moondance Diner’s newest caretakers we couldn’t wait to get to raise the sign once more; a well-deserved tribute to it’s NYC historical roots. We are hopeful that it’s newest role as a beacon for locals and travelers in the great state of Wyoming will become just as significant.

Vince and Don Hacklin spent an afternoon laying the sign out and putting it back together like a puzzle. The sheet metal still bears the shadow of each word that once rose above the hussle and bussle of 6th and Grand in Manhattan. Don custom-framed the housing for the sign which was planned in the design of the barrel roof .( Wind and weather were taken into consideration as the original wood frame from NYC was not salvageable.)  A day and 1/2 later the team started the process of attaching the sheets metal of the sign to the roof and the Diner’s nostalgic identity began to resurface. Vince and I attached some of the letters: EAT, DINER and the COFFEE CUP with it’s tell-tale STARS. The interest once more was peaked as passers-by commented on their first look at the sign since it had been removed in NYC last August.  We have decided the MOONDANCE letters will be put on last…. along with the rotating moon. Somewhat of a ribbon-cutting perhaps?     

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After consulting with our G.C., Don Hacklin, Vince and I agreed that one of the most important design features for Moondance is the unmistakable barrel roof. He recommended Supreme Building Supply in Bear River, Wyoming to take the unique challenge of designing and constructing this classic diner feature in compliance with our state codes. It wasn’t long before the computer-generated design was faxed our way and manufacturing of each individual truss commenced . It was very fascinating to see the roof take shape as each individual truss assembled similiarly to a line of cadets ready for command.  The unison and unqiue shape caught the eyes of passers-by as well.

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On April 5th, the  most recent recruit for Team Moondance leaped aboard this “Merry-Go-Round” project we are so very passionate about. Just as most of this journey with Moondance Diner has happened with little regard to  conventional processes…. the means in which Team Moondance is evolving is proving to be no different. Tanya is truly a unique asset to Moondance Diner and I cannot wait to share in this experience with her. In addition to an outstanding resume detailing her work history, education, and qualifications…. it is her ability to visualize her role in this dream and how she can become part of the Moondance Magic. Although we are very different from one another, we  have a shared a childhood, adolescence, young adulthood and that ever-so-clever mid-age creeping upon us. We are a well-needed balance for each other and often find great humor and satisfaction in working together. High five sis… here’s to more memories and all the times Mom really meant for us to “just get a long!” I am fond of the opening to a favorite song by ENYA ….

“Who can say where the road goes, where the day flows, only time…..”  For those who have little time or no time left at all we will do our best to make the most of ours.

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We are so pleased with all the support and interest in Moondance Diner and would like to thank all of those who have chosen to be part of this adventure with Vince and I. We would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to Moondance fans. Our goal to open the first part of June is within reach and those of you who have asked for t-shirts and tins have certainly become part of this experience. We’ve had orders from NYC, New Jersy, California, Alabama, Louisiana, Alaska, Oregon, Pennsylvania…. I am so excited each day to get the opportunity to chat with all of you. We have also received fascinating phone calls and letters with newspaper clippings from all over. Vince & I have always felt that Moondance Diner belongs to the people. Your continued support will bring the Magic of Moondance to life again. Thank you. We look forward to opening and the opportunity to share our love of good food and service at the Diner. 

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