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Rockford, Michigan: Abandoned Dinerland (Closed)

A row of classic diners hides a miniature golf course with big diner-food hazards. "Dinerland" opened in 1991, closed in Oct. 2011, but the abandoned compound is still there.

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Dinerland USA Sold in Michigan

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....

[02/27/2006] Complete News Story

Dinerland USA - Jerry's Baaaack

Dinerland USA and Rosie's Diner is back in the hands of the original owner. According to rosiesdiner.com: "Jerry Berta took back over control of Rosie's Diner property on March 10th, 2005. It is open for business once again and the food and service is better than ever. Stop in for his delicious daily specials and diner classics served by our wait staff in their vintage pink uniforms. We guarantee you will have an enjoyable dining experience. The previous owners have voluntarily turned the Rosie's Diner property back to Jerry. Business has been building as people hear that Jerry is back in charge. Rosie's is rocking again as it did when it opened 14 years ago."

[Ron Renken, 05/18/2005]
Rosie's Diner

Jerry Berta, the artist that created the Diner Village complex, has sold it and returned to the art fair circuit with his unique ceramic diners....Rosie's has suffered in his absense, the diners wanting for maintainance and the food and service a mere shadow of what had been. Gone are the waitresses in the classic diner uniforms, the cherry Cokes, and even their fabulous fried chicken. The meatloaf that was once magnificent is now only nasty.

The signage from the upscale DeLuxe Diner next door is gone, and it looks almost derelict. The Diner Store was unmanned and dark, on a Saturday afternoon! The unique mini-golf course out back looked playable, but needed TLC as well.

[Steve Robotland, 08/05/2004]
Rosie's Diner

We made it to Rosie's last night but only saw three diners, not four. The diner store was already closed so we could only window shop. That was a bummer since there was some pretty wild looking stuff in there. Went to one diner for dinner (burgers, meatloaf, shakes...) and the other diner for a drink (full bar plus giant burritos). The mini-golf looked in good shape but was closed. One of the locals tells us owner Jerry is putting the restaurant part up for sale.

[Douglass, 10/18/2003]
Rosie's Diner and three others

I own Dinerland in Rockford, Michigan. It consists of four classic diners in one location. The Diner store is my art gallery and studio. Rosie's Diner is a excellent restuarant; so is the Delux diner. There is even Dinerland Mini-golf. Check us out -- we definely are a roadside attraction and we need more like us.

[Jerry, 09/16/1997]

Rosie's Diner, famous for its "roll" in Bounty paper towel TV commercials in the 1970s, was originally located in Little Ferry, NJ.

Abandoned Dinerland

Directions:
US Hwy 131 exit 101. Take Hwy 57 east less than a mile.
Status:
Closed

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