Papermoon Diner is a diner in the Remington neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland, which is known for its eclectic decor.[1]
Papermoon Diner | |
---|---|
![]() Papermoon Diner in 2012 | |
![]() | |
Restaurant information | |
Established | 1994 |
Owner(s) | Un Kim |
Food type | American Fusion |
Street address | 227 W. 29th St |
City | Remington, Baltimore |
State | Maryland |
Postal/ZIP Code | 21211 |
Country | United States |
Coordinates | 39°19′21″N 76°37′16″W / 39.3225°N 76.6212°W |
Website | www |
History
editThe building, originally built in 1910, had previously been used as a diner under the names Tuttle House and Open House.[2][3] Un Kim, who immigrated from South Korea in the 1970s,[4] bought the building in 1994, and asked her friend from the Maryland Institute College of Art, David Briskie, to design the building's interior.[2][3] Originally, Briskie used his and Kim's own collections of figurines and knickknacks to decorate, later sourcing from antique stores.[2] They also collected grapevines and other natural items from local woods.[2]
When Papermoon, named after the 1973 film Paper Moon,[4] opened later in 1994, customers began to bring donations of items to be used as decor.[2] In its early years, Papermoon had a reputation for edgy decor, with some people taking issue with the issue of naked mannequins. In response, Briskie began covering the mannequins with toys and other items.[2]
Over time, Papermoon expanded the building to include additional seating areas.[2]
Decor
editThe diner's walls and shelves are layered with assorted items, including toy trains and cars, dolls and doll heads, and vintage items.[2][3] The diner's designer, David Briskie, has continued to remain involved with the diner, regularly updating and renovating the decor.[2][5] He has said he tries to keep the diner's decor kid-friendly.[2] The diner has 3,000 Pez dispensers, which were donated by the company's CEO after he visited.[2][3]
The building's exterior features colorfully painted mannequins and a blue and magenta bull statue.[3]
The diner also features art pieces by local artists.[5]
Pieces of the building's decorations have often been taken.[2][3] Some of the diner's outdoor mannequins have been taken by sororities and fraternities during their rush events.[2]
References
edit- ^ Wulfhart, Nell McShane (2017-04-13). "36 Hours in Baltimore". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Shua, Ariella (February 7, 2019). "A colorful interview with Papermoon's designer". The Johns Hopkins News-Letter. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
- ^ a b c d e f Perl, Larry (2015-09-09). "As Remington grows, Papermoon Diner keeps to its own orbit". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on 2023-12-12. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
- ^ a b "Papermoon Diner in Baltimore, Maryland". American Road Magazine. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
- ^ a b Ober, Cara (June 27, 2014). "We Heart Restaurant Art: Papermoon Diner". BmoreArt. Retrieved 2023-12-12.