Diner turned into media hub

NEW YORK -- ESPN has its Zone. The Internet has its cafes. Now, CNN has its -- diner? \nThe Cable News Network has turned the Tick Tock Diner into the CNN Diner for the Republican National Convention. \nLocated in the New Yorker Hotel on Eighth Avenue, the CNN Diner does more than serve free food. Closed to the public, the diner is the hub for most CNN activity, including meals, meetings and filming. Passes are required for access to the diner, which offers a full menu and open bar, all free of charge. \nThe concept, unique in all ways, was conceived by Senior Vice President for Marketing and Promotions for the CNN Newsgroup Scot Safon with the help of Civic Entertainment Group. \nSafon said grassroots politics spurned the idea for the diner -- a place Safon said is true America at its finest. \n"The whole diner aspect goes to get the pulse of the people," he said. \nThe Diner is home to 50 staffers, most of whom were borrowed from other restaurants' wait staffs or from catering services. Safon said it feeds the press, CNN crew members, delegates, sponsors and VIPs of all sorts. The planning for the diner began as soon as CNN's planning for the convention started. \n"We wanted to have a presence that would be meaningful to the press, the advertisers, to everyone," Safon said. "We wanted to make a statement about our brand." \nWith CNN's election coverage slogan as "America's Campaign Headquarters," Safon said it was almost fitting to make an actual campaign headquarters. \nCivic Entertainment Group's Project Manager Josh Pruss  said people leave the diner with an impression of CNN. \n"It's a quality product," Pruss said. "It creates a memorable dining experience." \nAt the Democratic National Convention in Boston, CNN began conceiving an idea similar to the diner, but instead in a Boston pub. \nBut Safon said, New York was just a more obvious choice to launch the idea of having an actual campaign headquarters because the network had more constituencies based out of the Big Apple, including advertisers, sponsors and more workers. \nNot only is the restaurant used for dining, Safon said it is used for filming CNN programs such as portions of American Morning, Wolf Blitzer at noon, Crossfire and many interviews. Among the people who have descended upon the diner other than CNN talent to take in the CNN dining experience are Rev. Jerry Falwell, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Sen. Alan Simpson (R. Wyoming). \nPruss said involving meals has proved successful for the CNN Diner. The diner is open until 2 a.m., which allows many members of the media as well as delegates and most everyone else involved with the convention to have a chance to eat comfortably after the festivities inside Madison Square Garden end around 11:15 p.m. \n"The food element is fantastic," Pruss said. \nFrom his standpoint, Safon said his measure of success is how the customers react.\n"My measure of success is that they want to be here, they seek it out," he said. "It's really fun and engaging to give them another experience."\nAs any good restaurant has, the CNN Diner hopes to have regulars. Even though passes are required for entrance, Safon said him and his crew are looking to bring back the customers.\n"My hope for it, is that this should be a place the people want to come to again and again," he said.\n-- Contact Senior Writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.