The Mysterious Appeal of the Faux-Stone Frontage

Diners have, over the years, tried many looks in order to lure the passing customer. Art Deco, gleaming silver rail car, lunch cart style, Colonial, Mediterranean, Tudor, Road House, etc.

One style I have never understood is the faux fieldstone facade. You still see examples of it in various New York neighborhoods. The above diner is in Greenpoint. Below is the Capitol Diner in Inwood. I'm not sure what the intention of the design is. Are we supposed to think the diner is housed inside some sort of grand, stone castle or medieval structure? Is is supposed to lend the restaurant a patina of history? The two diners I mention here are both Greek. Maybe they like the idea of looking like an ancient ruin. For my part, I think the design is inherently drab. It usually causes the owner to order a brown awning in order to keep with the color scheme. It all looks pretty dusty and dingy after a few years.