One of the many rivals to the diner and the drive-in restaurants as a popular place to meet or as a hang-out was the coffee shop. Many featured flamboyant architecture bedecked in neon to summon customers. Although the
drive-in offered meeting people and curb service in the semi-privacy of your car, your choices were limited. The everything served to you in your car idea had run it's course. Not only were drive- in restaurants beginning to loose favor but also drive-in theatres, drive-in dairies, drive-in donut shops and drive-in cleaners. The roadside eateries and drive-ins played their roll in developing mere eating into an event. 

However, American car culture was beginning to grow up, dress up, and step out not only for dinner, but out of their cars as well. (oil on canvas 1996 )