Arby's Roast Beef (Demolished)
Covina, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Let's start off in no particular order except alphabetical. Look forward
to hot roast beef sandwiches with extra horsey sauce? It's none other
than Arby's! This location in Covina sported an old hat-looking
sign.
UPDATE 01/04 : This Arby's sign in Covina with the old vintage neon hat was
taken down in Summer 2003. Many thanks to Joseph Tessier for update. 01-04
Taco Bell
Culver City, CA Photo courtesy Georg Balandran
If you are one of the hungry types who makes a "run for the border"
everything time the el stomacho comes calling, there's nothing better
than a Taco Bell taco. Here an inside scoop. Per an anonymous tipster,
the Taco Bell in Culver City was the first one. We haven't verified this
info and perhaps the tipster is really a trickster. But you heard it here
first.
UPDATE 02/02 : Looks like the 1st Taco Bell was
actually in Downey. So much for that anonymous tipster. Many thanks to
Steve Swanson for picking up this tidbit recently. 02-02
UPDATE 08/02 : The first Taco Bell was on Firestone
Blvd, in Downey, California. It was out by the All American Home Center
and Guadalajara Inn. Glen Bell himself built it and ran it for years. Many thanks to Johnny Wareham for added info. 08-02
Gar-Duno's (Closed)
Monterey Park, CA Photo courtesy Sal Garcia
Fancy hanging out after school at Gar-Duno's ... with its video
games and greasy fast food, what else could you want? Well, at least in
the past. Today, this location is closed and the sign looks like it's
just about history.
Tastee (Remodeled)
Covina, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Here's a chain that always seems to catch your eye as you pass by. It's Tastee and the familiar orange sign and red roofed restaurant.
This location here in Covina sports the familiar Tastee look. Notice anything
different? It may be your browser.
UPDATE 01/04 : This location has changed from a Tastee to a Winchell's
Donut Shop. Many thanks to Joseph Tessier for update. 01-04
Pioneer Chicken Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Pioneer Chicken and the famous
white chuck wagon sign can still be found in many cities. Pioneer, known
in past
for its great toy giveaways including the magic telescope and plastic
ride-around train, was the first of the chains to offer the extra crispy
skin. The marquee itself can still be found with the names of a great many other chicken places that have taken over the old Pioneer locations.