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Los Angeles Eateries (page 2)

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Dinah's Family Restaurant
Los Angeles, CA

2008:

2013:

2024:

Dinah's Chicken
Glendale, CA
2008: 2018:
Although these bucket sign looks nearly identical to Kentucky Fried Chicken's signs, I'm told that they were built for Dinah's. In fact, the owners of Dinah's Family Restaurant say that theirs was the first bucket style sign in Los Angeles. The restaurant opened in 1959. The first KFC bucket debuted in 1961. Around 1990, this sign was redone and neon was added. In 2011, the bucket was blown off the pole and damaged. The owners had a new sign built. In 2022, it was announced that construction of a new development surrounding the restaurant would soon be taking place. The restaurant closed in 2024 and is moving to nearby to Culver City. The name was changed to Dinah's Kitchen. The bucket sign was moved to the roof of the new location. It is not yet known if the restaurant's former building will be preserved. For more, see this website. [old location map]; [new location map]

The Dinah's Chicken in Glendale opened in 1967. It also has a bucket sign which retains the original look. Around 2013, the plastic sign panel was evidently replicated. The two restaurants were owned by friends and operated independently from the beginning. The owner of the Glendale location had five other Dinah's stands at one time which are gone now. For more, see this website. [map]

Dolores Restaurant [gone]
Los Angeles, CA
2008: 2013:
The Dolores Restaurant chain was established in Oklahoma City in the early 1920s. There were at least two locations there. After failed business attempts there, and after that in Florida and Missouri, the owners moved to Los Angeles. They opened a drive-in in Hollywood in 1944. Another drive-in was built in Beverly Hills. This restaurant in Los Angeles was built as Sheri's West. I believe it was built in the early 1960s. I don't know when it became a Dolores. It was the last surviving Dolores restaurant of the chain. In 2012, the building was damaged by a fire. It was demolished in 2014. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

Johnie's Wilshire
Los Angeles, CA
Johnie's Wilshire coffee shop was designed by Helen Fong of Armet & Davis. It opened in 1955 as "Romeo's Times Square". By 1957, it had become "Ram's" and, by 1966, it was known as "Johnie's". Johnie's Wilshire closed in 2000 and has been vacant since then. It is sometimes used as a filming location. The original pole sign was adapted for the 99 Cent store located next door. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. [map]

Pann's Restaurant
Los Angeles, CA

2008, 2013, 2017:
2024:
Pann's Restaurant was designed by Helen Liu Fong who worked for Armet & Davis. The restaurant opened in 1958. The interior is just as nicely preserved as the exterior. Between these 2008 and 2013 photos, the plastic panels on the sign were updated to "real food since 1958". The mural shown in the bottom row is just inside the entrance. It documents the history of the couple that owns the restaurant. In 2018, the sign was repainted and the "real food" panels were changed to "family-owned". Around 2021, the sign was repainted a greenish color. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

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