White Manna
White Manna and White Mana are the names of two fast food diners in the U.S. state of New Jersey, named after manna, the Biblical food. 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. Both buildings were manufactured by Paramount Diners of Oakland, New Jersey in the late 1930s. Bridges owned five diners, all named "White Manna".
The White Mana, located at 470 Tonnele Avenue in Western Slope in Jersey City is a historical landmark, as well as the first Manna to open and was the 1939 World's Fair building. 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 difference in spelling was the result of an error when the sign was serviced. It is famous for its hamburgers and sells approximately 3,000 a week.
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. White Mana is located at 40°44′50″N 74°3′42″W / 40.74722°N 74.06167°W.
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