One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Is Bob's Big Boy the Comeback King?
For a long time it seemed like Bob's Big Boy was going, going, and almost gone. But the end of an era has been halted, thanks to the new owner of the site of the old Johnie's Broiler in Downey, who is set to build a new Big Boy based on old designs.
The LA Times reports that "the new owner plans to restore the original 1958 plans" which include a car-hop. "The builders of the new location are seeking inspiration in the landmark Toluca Lake Bob's, which is marked by colorful neon lighting and vintage mid-century modern architecture." That's not to mention the classic diner fare of the chain, known for its double-decker "Big Boy" burger (named, according to legend, for a jolly round-faced young customer of the original restaurant, Bob's Pantry)--also good when you need to eat in the wee hours of the night.
But possibly more iconic than the burgers or the hot fudge cake are the fiberglass statues of a burger-hoisting kid in overalls that adorns each restaurant. As car culture and the car-hop service drew in teenagers in droves in the restaurant's heyday, so did the Big Boy statues draw in teens (and others of all ages)--some who snatched the statues as trophies. You'd better bet that there will be a Big Boy in front of the new Downey location, which could open in early 2009. In fact, things are looking up for the Boy; the chain is expanding, "with about 40 to 50 [new locations] scheduled to open in the next few years." But all things Googie aren't good, including in Downey. Another Googie-designed eatery of the same era, The Nordic Fox, also in Downey, will close its doors at the end of this month. Can the Big Boy prove he's a comeback king? We'll see...
Photo by James Herman via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
