Denny's Restaurant
San Diego, CA Photo courtesy M.C. Morrissey
Looking for a meal or just another cup of coffee? This Denny's Restaurant on El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego sports the familiar yellow marquee that has greeted plenty of hungry motorists over the years. No mystery about what's waiting inside this roadside stop.
San Diego is home to many a coffee shop. See them at Roadside Peek'sCoffee Shops San Diego.
Jack's Salad Bowl (Demolished)
Whittier, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Jack's Salad Bowl was built in the late 1950's by the late Martin Stern, Jr., who is also well known for having commissioned various Las Vegas landmarks such as The Mint and the International Hotel as well as Ships Coffee Shop.
Here is a photograph of the classic Ships,
La Cienega marquee with its recognizable rocket arrow pointing to
the heavens. It's hard to imagine that the Ships Coffee Shop Chain has now ceased
to exist.
Carolina Pines Jr. (Demolished)
North Hollywood, CA Postcard courtesy Chris Nichols
An enclosed patio and an around-the-clock menu made Carolina Pines Jr. a coffee shop suited to Southern California’s cruising days. The postcard captures the optimistic Googie look, when even a stop for coffee could come with some futuristic scenery.
The restaurant operated during the 1950s before becoming a Copper Penny coffee shop. A different name meant another chapter for the property, while the earlier view preserves its Carolina Pines identity.
UPDATE: Carolina Pines Jr. was later replaced by Copper Penny, and the photographed building was eventually demolished. 10-26
Western Dental (formerly Penguin Coffee Shop)
Santa Monica, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
That upswept roof above Western Dental in Santa Monica recalled the building’s earlier life as the Penguin Coffee Shop. Opened in 1959, its glass walls and rock accents gave the roadside a classic Googie look, even after coffee cups gave way to dental chairs.
Fortunately, meals eventually returned. Mel’s Drive-In restored the building and reopened it in 2018, bringing the old penguin sign back into the spotlight.
UPDATE: The former Penguin operates as Mel’s Drive-In at Lincoln and Olympic boulevards. Its Googie building and restored penguin marquee survive. 10-26
Twohey's Restaurant (Demolished)
Alhambra, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
A clothespin and a falling tear gave Twohey's Restaurant in Alhambra an unforgettable introduction. The “Little Stinko” logo grew from a customer’s reaction to the aroma of onions, while burgers and hot fudge sundaes kept diners coming back.
Founded in Pasadena in 1943, Twohey’s became a longtime fixture at Huntington Drive and Atlantic Boulevard before relocating to South Pasadena.
UPDATE: The Alhambra building was demolished in 2019. Twohey’s reopened at 424 Fair Oaks Avenue in South Pasadena in October 2020 and remains in operation. 10-26
Astro Family Restaurant (formerly Conrad's)
Los Angeles, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Check out the skyward roof at the Astro Family Restaurant in Los Angeles. Its sweeping lines, glass walls, and stone accents turn an ordinary meal into a stop with some space-age scenery.
Originally Conrad’s, this Armet & Davis coffee shop remains a familiar attraction at Fletcher and Riverside drives. Fortunately, the dramatic roof still shelters customers rather than an empty building.
UPDATE: Astro Family Restaurant remains open at 2300 Fletcher Drive. Its distinctive Googie architecture and roadside signage survive. 10-26
Denny's Restaurant
Jack's Salad Bowl
Carolina Pines Jr. (Demolished)
Western Dental (formerly Penguin Coffee Shop)
Astro Family Restaurant (formerly Conrad's)
