In this Setting the Stage article, I’m taking a look at the exterior shots of the Double R Diner from the first two seasons of Twin Peaks, David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, and Twin Peaks: The Return on Showtime. The Double R Diner was a key location used throughout the series, so this article is rather lengthy. Grab a damn fine cup of coffee and a slice of cherry pie that’s “the best in the try-counties” and let’s begin.
WHERE IS THE REAL DOUBLE R DINER (TWEDE’S CAFE) LOCATED?
Located at 137 W North Bend Way in North Bend, Washington, the location for the Double R Diner is now known as Twede’s Cafe. The building was opened in 1941 by Roy Thompson as Thompson’s Cafe. It was renamed in the 1950s to Mar-T Cafe once the business changed hands.
During filming in the late 1980s, the restaurant was known as the Mar-T Cafe. It’s iconic mid-century neon sign was often seen throughout the series.
DOUBLE R DINER EXTERIOR IN SEASON ONE
The exterior of the Double R Diner is seen for the first time early in the Twin Peaks Pilot. This location was one of the first filmed on Feb. 21, 1989 in North Bend.
The waitress Heidi is seen parking outside the dinner in her tan 1968 Volkswagen Sedan “Beetle.” This is also the first time the red neon “RR” sign is shown next to the neon “Mar-T” sign. Strangely, it will disappear and reappear randomly throughout the remainder of the series.
A close up of the red neon “RR” sign was first seen in episode 1.001. Get used to this shot as it will be used five more times during the first two seasons.
In episode 1.002, the side of the Double R Diner is shown with the “Twin Peaks” (actually Mount Si) shown in the background.
Conveniently, a pine tree branch was used to cover up part of the “Mar-T” sign. The red neon “RR” sign is also missing. The tree was brought in for the shot when a second unit crew returned to Snoqualmie Valley in fall 1989 to capture additional location footage. Look carefully and you’ll notice yellow and red trees in the distance which means these shot were most likely shot between September to November.
The shot of the logging truck passing by the 1960 Ford Country Squire (assuming Norma Jennings’ vehicle) will be used three more times during the first two seasons.
A Mack Superliner is seen parked outside the Double R Diner in episode 1.003. It will be used again in episode 1.005.
Later in episode 1.003, the red neon “RR” sign makes another appearance (just before Shelly Johnson recounts Laura Palmer’s funeral).
Episode 1.006 contains a longer edit of the logging truck passing the 1960 Ford Country Squire.
This logging truck will be seen from a reverse angle in episode 2.001 in the second season.
Episode 1.007 is the final time the Double R Diner is seen in the first season. It’s a nighttime shot of the Double R Diner (sans neon “RR” sign) just before Hank Jennings talks with Norma about being in prison.
DOUBLE R DINER EXTERIOR IN SEASON TWO
The Double R Diner returns in the first episode of the second season. The aforementioned logging truck is seen passing in front of the Double R Diner. It’s the same logging truck seen in episodes 1.002 and 1.006. This time the 1960 Ford Country Squire is parked next to the diner.
The logging truck – a 1972 Kenworth W-900 A – was owned by Littlejohn Logging, Inc. It appears the company today may be known as NorthFork Enterprises, Inc., established by Clayton Littlejohn, “who has been in the logging business for more than 30 years.”
Rather than show the individual screen caps of the truck passing by, I combined the images to get a look at the entire truck.
Once the truck passes, patrons of the Double R Diner are seen entering the restaurant. Notice the neon “RR” sign is missing from the Mar-T Cafe sign. This shot is most likely from the second unit visit in late 1989.
The only time a Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Deputy Car is seen parked next to the Double R Diner is in episode 2.002. The scene cuts to Deputy Andy covered in tape.
Episode 2.003 uses a recycled shot from episodes 1.002 and 1.006.
Episodes 2.004 and 2.005 uses the nighttime shot of the red neon “RR” sign first seen in episode 1.003.
Episode 2.007 uses a shot of a lady sitting on a bench in front of the diner. No neon “RR” sign on the Mar-T Cafe sign.
More recycled shots appear in episodes 2.008 and 2.010. The exterior of the Double R Diner in episode 2.008 was first seen in episode 1.002.
I wasn’t kidding when I said you would see the neon “RR” sign from episode 1.003 several more times.
Episode 2.013 has an establishing shot (no “RR” sign) with an elderly gentleman with a cane walking by the diner. The 1960 Ford Country Squire is parked in the lot. It could have been part of the footage from episode 2.001.
In the same scene as the gentleman walking, a yellow school bus from the Snoqualmie Valley School District passes by the diner.
Later in episode 2.013 before Nadine accosts Mike Nelson, this close-up shot of the the Mar-T Cafe sign is shown. It’s the only time it’s used in the series (and I love it!!).
The logging truck image from episodes 1.003 and 1.005 is shown again in episode 2.014. This time, the scene is slightly extended with a 1958 Dodge D-100 passing by. Pete Martell also drives a Dodge D-100 but it’s from a different year.
Episode 2.016 contains a scene with a logging truck obscuring the view of the Diner (sans “RR” neon sign). When it clears, Norma’s car is scene parked in the side lot.
A tan truck is briefly scene as the tail end of this establishing shot in episode 2.016.
The nighttime shot from episode 1.007 is used again in episode 2.020 during the montage of empty places in Twin Peaks. The neon “RR” sign is still missing.
In the last episode of the second season, a shorter scene originally used in episode 2.001 was shown. It has a logging truck passing by the diner while patrons are entering the restaurant. This is the final shot of the Double R Diner until it’s return in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.
DOUBLE R DINER EXTERIOR IN TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME
For the scenes from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, I combined images from both the original theatrical release and the incredible deleted or extended scenes from The Missing Pieces. The red neon “RR” sign appears again on the Mar-T Cafe sign. A yellow sign with black lettering – “Home of Twin Peaks Pies” was added to the Mar-T Cafe following the airing of the first season.
Interestingly, some of the interior signs from the Double R Diner used in the first two seasons are seen in the exterior windows. I cover some more details about this scene in this article.
DOUBLE R DINER EXTERIOR IN TWIN PEAKS: THE RETURN
In summer 2017, Showtime aired Twin Peaks: The Return or Season 3. Luckily, we returned to the Double R Diner which was redecorated and remodeled – RR2GO! – for the new season. The above photo was an official publicity still shared by the Showtime team. Notice the pie and coffee mural has a Twede’s Cafe mug. The neon red “RR” sign is back next a refurbished “Mar-T” sign.
Viewers needed to wait until Part 5 aired on June 4, 2017 to get a first look at the Double R Diner.
Part 6 aired on June 11, 2017 and contained another shot of the diner with the “Twin Peaks” (aka Mt. Si) looming in the background.
Airing on July 21, 2017, Part 11 offered the first nighttime glimpse of the diner. It’s gorgeous! The episode contains additional shots of Deputy Bobby Briggs investigating outside the building as seen below.
I liked this nighttime shot of the police car pulling up next to the Double R Diner complete with Twede’s Cafe mural
In Part 15 which aired on August 15, 2017, we return to the Double R Diner during the day. This time, Big Ed parks next two the diner after being set free by Nadine.
A closer shot shows Ed existing his truck.
The final daytime shot of the Double R Diner closes out the scene with Big Ed and Norma, who are finally together after the longest courtship ever. The scene is similar to one shown in Part 6.
The last look at the Double R Diner comes in Part 18 (aired September 4, 2017) as Cooper/Richard drives Carrie Page through the empty nighttime streets of Twin Peaks.
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