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Southern California Chain Restaurants (page 1)

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former
Famous Amos Cookies
Los Angeles, CA		 former Famous Amos Cookies
Los Angeles, CA
The original Famous Amos Cookies store, shown above left, was built in 1975. The building now houses the Bossa Nova restaurant. The shape of the building is now obscured. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

The second former Famous Amos Cookies store shown above is much more intact. It was built sometime after the Tarzana location (gone) opened in 1975. Soon after this Los Angeles location was built, it began housing a House of Pies. As shown below, House of Pies buildings were larger than these and had four gables. The building now houses the Coin Connection. I don't know if there were any other freestanding Famous Amos stores like these. I believe all three of these stores were closed by the mid-1980s. [map]

House of Pies
Los Angeles, CA
former Original House of Pies
Santa Monica, CA
2014: 2024:
former Original House of Pies
Redondo Beach, CA
former Original House of Pies
San Jose, CA
former Original House of Pies
Los Angeles, CA		 former Original House of Pies
Downey, CA
former Original House of Pies
San Diego, CA
2014: 2020:
The House of Pies chain was established in 1965 as the Original House of Pies. This location opened in 1969. Around 1986, the company went bankrupt and closed most of its locations. I believe this location and the two in Houston, TX are the only operating locations left. However, many of these buildings are still around and have been adapted for other restaurants and businesses. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

The former Original House of Pies in Santa Monica became Polly's Pies in 1978 and adapted the sign. Evidently, the building was originally built for Fast Eddie's which explains why this building looks nothing like the traditional house-shaped buildings. I don't know of any other instances where Original House of Pies occupied a former restaurant building. Polly's Pies closed in 2004 and reopened just a few months later as a Panera. The Original House of Pies sign was adapted again. In 2021, the building and sign were adapted for a Shake Shack. [map]

The former Original House of Pies in Redondo Beach has been remodeled somewhat and now houses an Original House of Pancakes. The sign has also been adapted with a roof added to the house. [map]

The former Original House of Pies in San Jose now houses Kenji Sushi. [map]

The former Original House of Pies in Los Angeles now houses the Fortune House Chinese restaurant. [map]

The former Original House of Pies in Downey has housed Pieloon since 1977. [map]

The former Original House of Pies in San Diego housed Lil B's Urban Eatery in 2014. The sign had been adapted but still revolved. In 2018 and 2019, the building was housing The Anthem Restaurant. By 2020, when it began housing The Village restaurant, the sign was no longer spinner. From the early 1980s until 2011, the building housed Johnny's R. Restaurant. [map]

The Hat
Alhambra, CA

The Hat
Temple City, CA		 The Hat
Monterey Park, CA
The Hat
Upland, CA
The Hat in Alhambra opened in 1951 and was the original location. This is not the original sign but it appears to be the oldest one left now. The Hat now has ten locations. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [Alhambra map]; [Temple City map]; [Monterey Park map]; [Upland map]

SoCal Chains
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page 3		 SoCal Chains
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Central &
NorCal Chains page 1		 Central &
NorCal Chains page 2		 CA Drive-ins CA Ice Cream
CA Misc.
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page 5
CA Misc.
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Los Angeles
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