Jerry Berta has auctioned off his cluster of four diners, a.k.a. Dinerland, in Rockford, Michigan, including Rosie's Diner of TV commercial fame. Jerry reports that Randy and Jonelle Roust won the one-bid-takes-all sale at the end of January. They take over the diner on March 1st.

The diners have been a tourism landmark east of US 131 for over ten years. Just last summer we noticed the overgrown Diner Food miniature golf behind Rosie's. Rosie's Diner, originally named the "Silver Dollar Diner," was built in 1946 and operated in Little Ferry, NJ, where its claim-to-fame was established in a Bounty paper towel TV spot. The diner was sold to Berta in 1991 and moved to Rockford. Berta sold the diners once before, but regained the collection last year.

The public auction sought a single bidder to acquire the diners, 4.5 acre property, equipment, liquor license, etc. Jerry writes that the Roust's "plans are just to improve Dinerland." As for himself, Jerry reports: "I am creating my Neon and Ceramic Roadside Attractions Sculptures. I will be traveling around the country exhibiting my artwork. Next [I'll be] at the Barret Jackson Car auction in Palm Beach." [02/27/2006]

February 10, 2012