The diner is a nostalgic piece of Americana that conjures images of long, stainless-steel counters, plastic booths, and blinking neon signs, welcoming all who enter. More than just establishments where people can grab a quick, inexpensive meal, diners symbolize a place where people from all walks of life can gather, share a meal, and engage in conversation. The open layout encourages communal interaction and becomes a place where lives intersect. In Hope Was Here, most of the action takes place inside the walls of a diner. The diner is not only Hope and Addie’s place of employment, but it also becomes a second home to them, and the staff becomes like an extended family. Hope remembers the name of each diner where they worked, and before they move on to the next place, she leaves her signature phrase under the counter, marking the place with her name and in her memory.

When Hope arrives at Welcome Stairways diner, she immediately knows it is not like other greasy spoons. From the unique double staircase outside to the chirpy, animated owner G.T. Stoop, Welcome Stairways exudes a different type of energy and becomes a transformative space for Hope as she develops her identity and finds her

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