Category:Center City Diner, Allentown, Pennsylvania

The Center City Diner at 9th and Linden streets has been a staple of Diners in Center City Allentown since 1971. However, it's not always been there.

The facility opened as Van's Diner at 26 North 9th Street, at the northwest corner of 9th and Court in June 1960. It originally cost $150,000 and had a capacity of 112 people. Its location was a good one, and it enjoyed a brisk business, being located across the street from Hess Brother's department store, and next to both the PP&L Tower building to the south and the Boyd Theater on the north. It was open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In 1969, PP&L announced an expansion of its main tower building at Ninth and Hamilton Streets, and purchased the properties along North Ninth Street from Court Street to Linden. These businesses would be closed and the existing buildings torn down in order for PP&L to expand its office space.

However Arner's Diner, as the business was named beginning in 1963 decided to purchase an existing parcel on the northeast corner of Ninth and Linden, then a parking lot, and physically move its building one-half block to the new location. To accomplish this, the diner was jacked up from its foundation, which was then knocked down and three trailers were slid underneath. It was then welded to the trailers for stability. Once on the trailer, it was pulled out and rolled north on 9th street until it was parallel with the curbing. It then was backed up north along 9th street, then turned to the left and backed up into its current location. The parking lot had previously been excavated and utility service lines and a sewer had been installed underneath where the diner would eventually be placed. It was initially supported by lumber until a permanent foundation could be poured underneath.

Arners opened within a month of its move. The business has gone though several hands since the Diner was first manufactured and placed at 9th and Court Street in 1960. Previous names of the diner have been:

• Center City Diner Aug 2010–Present
• Gate 7 Diner 2003
• Silver Star Restaurant 1996
• All-American Diner Oct 1979
• Ben Franklin Restaurant Aug 1975
• Amer's Diner May 1963
• Van's Diner Jun 1960

The location at 26 North Ninth Street was the former home of the Allentown Clover Club, a social and philanthropic organization since 1923. The building was erected as a Victorian Home about 1891, and was sold to the Allentown Mercantile Club, a businessman's organization, in 1910.