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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
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Iona Young

Throwback Edinburgh images capture loved 'Back to the Future' diner from the 1960s

An incredible collection of old pictures that capture a well-loved Back to the Future style diner from the 1960s have resurfaced showing a glimpse into life back then.

Ally McLellen, 69, who now stays in Niddrie shared the bundle of photographs snapped in and around his parents Alistair and Margaret McLellan's business through the decades.

Most pictures were taken in the 50s and early 60s showing some fantastic hairstyles and outfits of the times and of course, the classic cars like Alistair's beloved Vauxhall Astra often parked outside.

READ MORE - Heartfelt tributes for 'brilliant' Edinburgh dad after his tragic sudden death

Not to be confused with DiMarcos in Tollcross, the American diner was located on 102 Marchmont Road which much later was a Margiotta's before turning into a Sainsbury’s about a decade ago.

Speaking to Edinburgh Live Ally McLellen said: "My dad got it in 1959, off one of the DiMarco brothers who stayed in Leith for around £4500.

"He had an ice cream van before that called Ally Pally's Ices. We stayed behind Warender Park Baths which was just five minutes away from DiMarcos.

"The pictures are mostly from the 50s and early 60s. The place needed to be done up so he did it like an American 1960s bar and it was the first of its kind at the time.

"The front of it was a café but if you went next door on Spottiswoode Road it was a barber where we went to get our haircut.

"My dad used to wind up other shopkeepers on the street but got on with them all really. He would put a sign in his shop window advertising the price of eggs for cheaper than what they were selling for across the road.

"The owner would come in and say 'How are you selling eggs that cheap?' and he would just keep doing this till he realised my dad never had any eggs or intentions of selling them.

"In its heyday, it was heaving with all different people, I met my wife there too when we were teenagers and I was working behind the counter.

"My dad also had a Vauxhall Cresta that would always be outside - but I never got a shot off it."

Ally continued: "We had to help out to get our pocket money from about nine or ten years old so we often worked in the diner. There was a jukebox in the cellar with a bar where we would all hang out if we weren’t working.

"We all went there after school too or go swimming at Warrender first and hang out in the cellar after but if it was nice we'd all go down and have a day in the Meadows.

"My dad owned it from 1959 all the way through the 60s before he sold it to an Italian guy called Cesar. He changed it into something else after a couple of years and we moved away from the area so I lost track."

Dozens of locals had brilliant memories of DiMarcos from over the years many kids who enjoyed Summers in Marchmont.

Moira Joan Brown said: "Loved that place. My Mum and Dad were friends of Mr DiMarcos and the younger person who took it over. I used to get a Knickerbocker Glory there - an ice cream sundae in a high glass."

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Graham Croall fondly remembered school days and said: "I used to spend my dinner money from Gillespies there on pies and the jukebox."

Stephen Watson added: "I remember being in this café with my mum. Must have been around 1979 -80. Loved the milkshakes."

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