White Manna

White Manna and White Mana are the names of two fast food diners in the U.S. state of New Jersey. They were originally opened by Louis Bridges, who purchased the original diner that was introduced in the 1939 New York World's Fair in Flushing Meadows Park, Queens.cite web | url=http://www.njcu.edu/programs/jchistory/Pages/W_Pages/White_Mana_Diner.htm | title=White Mana Diner | first=Carmela | last=Karnoutsos | work=Jersey City, Past and Present | publisher=New Jersey City University | accessdate=2008-06-18] Both buildings were manufactured by Paramount Diners of Oakland, New Jersey in the late-1930s. [cite web | url=http://www.dinercity.com/njDiner/northNJ.html | title=North New Jersey Diner Directory | publisher=Diner City | accessdate=2008-06-18] Bridges owned five diners, all named "White Manna".

Jersey City, New Jersey

The White Mana, located in Jersey City, is believed to be the 1939 World's Fair building, and was the first to open. When originally introduced, it was called the "diner of the future" and an "Introduction to Fast Food." According to the present owner, Mario Costa, Jr., the reason for the difference in spelling was a result of an error when the sign was serviced. [cite news | url=http://njmonthly.com/articles/restaurants/cheapeats/cheap_eats.html | title=Cheap Eats | publisher=New Jersey Monthly | date=December 21, 2007 | accessdate=2008-06-18] It is famous for its hamburgers and sells approximately 3,000 a week.cite news | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9500E6D6143EF930A15751C0A961958260 | title=Burger, Burger, Burger: How a Fast Food Landmark Almost Vanished - New York Times | first=Barbara | last=Stewart | date=February 23, 1997 | accessdate=2008-06-18]

Costa, who had worked at the diner through high school and college, bought the diner for $80,000 in 1979 from Bridges’ brother Webster. In 1996, Costa decided to sell the diner and lot for $500,000, but soon regretted the deal when he discovered that the new owners intended to replace it with a doughnut franchise. Costa attempted to back out of the deal, but the buyers refused to void the transaction. He filed a lawsuit to stop the sale, but lost. Eventually, the buyers agreed to sell it back to him at a higher cost than their purchase price.

In 1997, the Jersey City Historic Preservation Committee declared the diner a local landmark .

Hackensack, New Jersey

The Hackensack White Manna Diner is a fast food restaurant located at 358 River Street. The diner has been at the site since 1946, and it is on the banks of the Hackensack River.

The White Manna Diner of Hackensack has also been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on the Food Network.

Differences

While you may notice that both restaurants are of similar name they are quite different. For instance at White Mana the burgers are served on a full sized white bread hamburger bun and at White Manna they come on the slider sized Martin's Potato roll. The ordering at the two restaurants is quite different as well. At White Manna the fries come out separately far in advance of a burger. Some consider the Hackensack Manna the true White Manna even though the Jersey City location slightly pre-dates it. Others say that the Jersey City location is more original because it sticks to a more classic way of doing things. The Jersey City location is also open 24 hours and serves bacon & taylor ham...Hackensack does not.or|date=June 2008

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