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RIP Bill Binder, Ran Phillipe's for Decades
Photo by LA Wad via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
The man who ensured Phillipe's had a new life on Alameda Street has died, according to the LA Times. William "Bill" Binder, 94, came to run Phillipe's by way of marriage, when he wed "Beverly Martin in 1944. Her father, Frank, had purchased Philippe's with his two brothers in 1927 from original owner Philippe Mathieu."
In 1951, Bill Binder reassured his father-in-law that the restaurant famous for its French Dip sandwich and sawdust-strewn floors would thrive in a new location when the construction of the 101 Freeway forced them out of their Aliso Street spot. They might have moved addresses, but the food didn't change:
Binder didn't mess with its winning formula; the menu stayed virtually the same during his years running the restaurant. Additions such as the turkey sandwich and salads to provide health-conscious diners with options were added after he retired in 1985.
Binder's sons Jon and Richard have run the eatery since then. According to them their father "died Jan. 28 of natural causes at a care facility in Pasadena."
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