Toluca Lake, CA - Here are photos from the best remaining Bob's Big
Boy and still features car hop
service and the classic Big Boy Combo. 04-08
Bob's Big Boy
Toluca Lake, CA Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
There’s no mistaking the destination when the big neon letters at Bob’s Big Boy come into view along Riverside Drive. Check out the towering sign, giving hungry motorists plenty of warning that burgers are ahead. Down below, the familiar fellow in checkered overalls holds up his double-decker, apparently having made his selection quite some time ago.
This longtime Toluca Lake favorite sits just inside Burbank and has been welcoming customers since 1949. Built by Scott MacDonald and Ward Albert, it is the oldest remaining Bob’s Big Boy in America. Quite a run for a place built around a hamburger, especially considering how many of its old companions have disappeared.
Bob's Lettering on Wall
Toluca Lake, CA Photo courtesy Jason Carlton
This roadside delight designed by the late Wayne McAllister was restored
in the 90's after being close to meeting the fate of other great roadside
eateries... the wrecking ball. Thanks in part to the L.A. Conservancy's
Modern Committee, this classic eatery can still be enjoyed today.
Bob's Big Boy Statue
Toluca Lake, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The building deserves a look of its own. Architect Wayne McAllister combined rounded forms, broad windows, and deep canopies with a long, low roofline. The restaurant stretches across the property while the sign reaches skyward, making a convincing pair from the days when roadside restaurants dressed up to catch passing traffic.
After dark, the neon brings another dimension to the scene. The big name glows above the restaurant, recalling an era when a drive for dinner could include a whole procession of illuminated coffee shops and burger stands. Here, one of those familiar stops is still part of the evening scenery.
Bob's Big Boy
Toluca Lake, CA Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Friday nights add chrome, fins, and polished paint to the gathering. Classic cars fill the parking lot, giving visitors something to admire between bites. An old car beneath the Bob’s sign looks right at home, as though the driver has merely stopped for a shake before heading back out to cruise.
Bob's interior view
Toluca Lake, CA Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The restaurant has attracted some famous customers too. The Beatles stopped here during their 1965 American tour, and a marked booth recalls their visit. Even a band busy making music history found time for a meal at Bob’s. The double-decker had some rather distinguished company.
Bob's was built in 1949 and now has the distinction of being the oldest remaining Bob's Big Boy in the nation. Bob's received the State of California designation of a State Point of Historical Interest after a successful restoration effort that began in 1993. Today, the lobby is always full of hungry patrons ready to dig into the classic Big Boy combo or another mouth watering dish from the expanded menu.
UPDATE: Bob’s remains open, and the Friday classic-car show continues. Threatened with demolition in the early 1990s, the restaurant survived a preservation campaign and underwent restoration. California recognized it as a Point of Historical Interest in 1992. The big sign, familiar building, and burger-bearing mascot are still here to greet another generation of roadside travelers. 10-26
A View from across the street
Toluca Lake, CA Photo courtesy Chris & Ginger
Car Hop Sign at Bob's
Toluca Lake, CA Photo courtesy Chris & Ginger
Bob's Big Boy
Bob's interior view
