"Packard took such an interest, in fact, that he had the dining car carefully disassembled and shipped back to Washington piece by precious piece. Arguably, it's those well-reserved details that make the diner (by any name) what it is. A long steel countertop spans the length of the dining car, dotted with red-leather-capped barstools standing on retro tiled floors. Cheerful red leather booths, arched ceilings, and wall-to-wall windows complete the welcoming, nostalgic atmosphere."
"The traditional, retro-style diner was built inside a historic stainless steel dining car in 1948. When the eatery originally opened its doors, it was not called the Madison Diner, but the Willow Grove Diner - and, it was not to the Washington community that those doors first opened, but to the foodies of Philly-suburb Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, more than 2,800 miles East of where it stands now."
The Madison Diner occupies a 1948 stainless-steel dining car originally built and opened as the Willow Grove Diner in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. New owners moved the dining car to New Jersey in 1963 where it later closed and remained shuttered for decades. In 1996 Bainbridge Island resident Al Packard purchased the car, had it carefully disassembled, and shipped piece by piece to Washington for reassembly. The interior retains vintage features including a long steel countertop, red-leather-capped barstools, retro tiled floors, red leather booths, arched ceilings, and wall-to-wall windows. The menu focuses on classic East Coast diner fare and includes Pacific Northwest items like salmon hash.
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