Archies atomic burger8/31/2023 ![]() The future owner had been employed as an assistant chef at the Broiler. Ortner executed a lease-to-own agreement with Christos Smyrniotis in 1970. Apparently this interim owner couldn't meet the terms of the agreement and the sign had already been changed from Harvey's to Johnie's. The restaurant was renamed Johnie's Broiler in 1968 and additional signage was installed in 1969 after the sale of the restaurant to an interim owner by the name of Johnson (hence the reason for the single "n" in "Johnie's"). Harvey's Broiler was an overnight success and thousands of people came from all over the United States to experience the phenomenon of "The Broiler". In the old days this ritual, called "rapping the engine," was a challenge to a street race." Instantly other drivers respond in automatic litany. Occasionally an impatient driver races his engine twice in rapid succession, sending a throaty whoom-whoom into the soft night air. On weekend nights hundreds of cars jam the parking lot, and eager drivers waiting for a berth circle the block. Here high school hot rodders gather to partake of the glorified "chubby," a double hamburger, gape at one another's cars and check on the latest fads. In its 1961 issue, the author wrote "A favorite in the Los Angeles area is Harvey's Broiler, a drive-in in the suburb of Downey. Harvey's was featured in the nationally distributed magazine Sports Illustrated. modes, Teenage Paris! Harvey’s Drive-in!". While writing about the Southern California culture, writer Tom Wolfe wrote in the early 1960s that "They cruise around in their cars in Harvey’s huge parking lot, boys and girls, showing each other the latest in fashions, in cars, hairdos (male and female) and clothes in the Los Angeles Teenage. ![]() Clayton's design incorporates Southern California Googie architectural elements intended to attract customers from motorists traveling in either direction on Firestone Boulevard. Clayton to design the Harvey's Broiler which was completed in 1958. Ortner and his wife Minnie purchased former poultry farm property located on Firestone Boulevard and Old River School Road in 1950. It was founded and initially named after owner Harvey Ortner who was previously a partner in the Clock Broiler restaurants of Alhambra, Lynwood, Bellflower, Culver City, Van Nuys, South Pasadena and Temple City. Johnie's Broiler, now operating as Bob's Big Boy Broiler, has a Googie-style coffee shop and drive-in restaurant. Original signage of Johnie's Broiler, taken in 2002 Due to its 1950s Googie style, the restaurant has been featured in several movies and TV shows. However, the restaurant was reconstructed in 2009 and re-opened as part of the Bob's Big Boy chain, while retaining the original building's look and design. The building was largely demolished in January 2007. From 2002 to 2006, the building and parking lot housed a used car dealership. Johnie's Broiler, originally known as Harvey's Broiler and currently operating as Bob's Big Boy Broiler, is a restaurant located in Downey, California that first opened in 1958. ![]() October 19, 2009 13 years ago ( ) as Bob's Big Boy Broiler Exterior of Johnie's Broiler, operating as Bob's Big Boy Broiler, in 2023Ģ009 (reconstruction after illegal demolition)ġ958 65 years ago ( 1958) as Harvey's Broiler
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