Leon's Steak House (Demolished)
Burbank, CA Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo
Leon's Steak House has been serving prime rib and cocktails since 1958. Scheduled to close
when the lease expires July 31, 2003 to be replaced by a Walgreens. Many thanks to Adriene Biondo for info.
For roughly 45 years, Leon’s offered customers a familiar place to settle in for a meal. Unfortunately, its lease was scheduled to expire on July 31, 2003, with a Walgreens planned for the property. [ed. note: yes, you heard that right. A Walgreens...!]
UPDATE : Leon's was indeed demolished as scheduled.
UPDATE: Leon’s was demolished following its 2003 closure, and the property was redeveloped for Walgreens. The steak house that began serving customers in 1958 had served its last dinner. 10-26
Melody Lounge (Demolished)
San Gabriel, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Check out this neon shot of The
Melody Lounge. It's worth a visit, especially as the neon calls out
to you.
The neon at Melody Lounge in San Gabriel gave the evening a little extra color. Before customers reached the door, the glowing lettering had already supplied a roadside introduction. Apparently a lounge named Melody understood how to set the mood.
An unverified tale describes a pink-and-blue glow briefly appearing across the parking lot during heavy fog. Think this is true? Perhaps the sign wasn’t ready to leave the evening shift.
UPDATE: This Melody Lounge was demolished to make
way for a Walgreen's parking lot. 08-05
UPDATE: The Melody Lounge had been demolished by February 2005, when the cleared site was reported as parking for a new Walgreens. The lounge and its roadside neon are gone. 10-26
Rainbow Bar & Grill
Hollywood, CA Photo courtesy Kirk Maillet
Along the Sunset Strip, Rainbow Bar & Grill offers a roadside greeting with quite a musical history behind it. Opened on April 16, 1972, with a party for Elton John, the restaurant quickly became a gathering place for musicians and their followers.
Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister was among its most devoted regulars, with his video-poker sessions becoming part of the Rainbow’s identity. A bronze statue unveiled in 2016 gave him a permanent place outside. Some of his ashes were also enshrined here in April 2024.
An unverified tale describes video-poker sounds coming from a powered-down machine after closing. True story? Perhaps someone still wanted another hand.
UPDATE: The Rainbow remains open in West Hollywood. Lemmy’s Lounge, his memorial statue, and the enshrined ashes give music fans several reasons to stop beyond the menu. 10-26
Shrimp Boat (Demolished)
Temple City, CA Photo courtesy Dan MacPherson
The Shrimp Boat was located on the east side of Rosemead (Hwy 19) near Duarte road. The
sign was removed and the building demolished quite some time ago. Many thanks to Dan MacPherson for info.
Rosemead Boulevard, also Highway 19, supplied the traffic while the restaurant handled the invitation to pull in. It belonged to the days when smaller eateries gave the San Gabriel Valley’s commercial strips plenty of individual character. Apparently dinner didn’t always need a familiar corporate logo out front.
UPDATE: The Temple City Shrimp Boat has been demolished, and its sign removed. The original restaurant no longer stands. 10-26
Encounter Restaurant (Closed)
Los Angeles, CA Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo
A flying saucer appears to have found a parking place at LAX. The Theme Building, later home to Encounter Restaurant, remains a recognizable space-age landmark. Apparently catching a flight wasn’t futuristic enough without something unusual to admire on the ground.
Completed in 1961, the building places its circular dining space between enormous crossed arches. Encounter opened in December 1996 with a playful interior created by Walt Disney Imagineering, carrying the futuristic theme indoors.
An unverified tale describes old airline announcements and lounge music echoing through empty service spaces. Could be? Perhaps a boarding call was still waiting for its passengers.
UPDATE: Encounter closed in December 2013 when its operating contract expired. The protected Theme Building survives, with the Bob Hope USO occupying ground-floor space since 2018 and continuing to serve military members and their families. 10-26
Best Place Cafe (Closed)
Long Beach, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Neon against the stucco gave Best Place Cafe in Long Beach a welcoming glow after dark. With a name like that, the restaurant certainly wasn’t shy about making a recommendation.
Located on Bellflower Boulevard in Los Altos, the cafe offered the familiar appeal of a neighborhood meal stop with its own roadside identity. In 2011, it also hosted a community coffee-and-conversation event with a city council member. Apparently discussing local business worked a little better with coffee within reach.
UPDATE: Best Place Cafe has closed. Its former address at 2099 Bellflower Boulevard is now occupied by Taco Beach. 10-26
George's 50's Diner
Long Beach, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Here’s a coffee shop that fits right in with a parking lot full of classic cars. George’s 50’s Diner originally opened as Grisinger’s Drive-in around 1950, bringing a little drive-in character to Atlantic Avenue. Architect Wayne McAllister supplied the distinctive design, back when the building itself was part of the invitation to stop for something to eat.
UPDATE: George’s remains a working neighborhood diner. Designated a Long Beach Historic Landmark in 2004, the building continues to offer a familiar piece of the city’s roadside past. 10-26
Encounter Restaurant (Closed)
