Harvey's Broiler Razed Illegally!!!!!!!!!!!!

Huh? You a few years behind, I think...


Wanna buy a "Save Harvey's Broiler" tee shirt?

 

The HAMB Deal is FRI Sept 18th Aprox 5pm-10 If we have lights
It is a potluck, so bring some grub,cuz the kitchen will not be ready.
The lot will not be paved so I hope that you don"t mind a lil dust on your car. Jim will provide the drinks so come and hang out and have a good time.

Denise,
Adriene posted our FREEBIE car show above, I just hope that we're ready. Don't sweat the fundraiser guys,cuz we postponed it till after the HAMB meet n greet pot luck and the back to the Broiler Cruise on the 26th.

Come on out if ya can.

 

This morning was unveiling ceremony of BIG BOY himself!!!
The Big Boy statue was mounted on the roof, in place and waiting for the big moment to be uncovered for all to see...

The morning was met with nice blue skies and the construction workers very busy working hard to get her done...



Big Boy still wrapped up











The ladies, from the left, Adriene Biondo, Analisa Ridenour and the owner's daughter Lindsey Louder who will be the General Manager of the Bob's Big Boy...


The owner, Jim Louder, on the left, with some city bigwigs as they get ready to uncover Big Boy...
















new terrazo flooring...


how's that for a 50's color for tilework

 

MODERATORS PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!


Because people don't read past the first headline and post away about the broiler being torn down (when it's in fact now back up):

Isn't time to either:

A: close this thread and split it off to a newly titled thread.

B: At the very least retitle the thread.

It's a great thread no matter what happens.

 

MODERATORS PLEASE !!!!!!!!!!!! IGNORE THE PREVIOUS POST....LEAVE IT ALONE.

Let Kevin make that decision.

.

 

SO
FREAKING
AWESOME!!!

is that blonde gal the one who manages the torrance store now?

 

I have a question.

Being that I'm from the east, it will probably be a while before I'll ever get to see the results of the rebuilding of Harvey's Broiler. I'm certainly happy for all those who were involved with or at least desired to see this icon brought back.

I know that although the original architectural plans were generally followed, some internal structural improvements were made. The question I'd like to ask those who remember the original structure and who have seen the new structure: does the rebuilt structure appear and feel like the former structue in every way???

Just curious. Congratulations on saving an American treasure!!!

 

right or kevin too...

 

Wow, it looks great, I think I feel a tear running down my cheek...
Wouldn't it be great if this was a trend that would catch on all across the country.
Reuse & recycle old buildings, always amazes me that we save cans and bottles and throw cars and buildings away.
This is so cool and inspirational, I see a Hallmark movie here somewhere.
Great job everyone involved...

 

There are others that can answer that question even better than I, but with that been said, I did experience the Broilers previous incarnation and right when the glass installers placed the floor to ceiling glass in I walked in what was the coffee shop area and got the same ol feeling of being there. Mind you, I was standing on the original terazo at the time so in a sense I was back in the old coffee shop. Standing under the canopy I get the feeling that it was never gone. There were structural engineering decissions that we compromised with, but that is what it takes to build insure and occupy a once destroyed,now repaired Mid Century Modern Building that is reincarnated in the Millenium.
I hope that many people get that same experience. We truly are doing the best that we can.



John H.
Please note that in a post above (perhaps pg 63)I did say that the day that the Broiler opens, that I will post a new thread stating Harvey's Broiler-Born Again, can't wait till that day.
Kevin

 

Thanks Kevin...well duh I did read that post too, sorry. When I was there a few weeks ago I got emotional too. So many great people and things happened to me because of that place.

 

Mazooma1, Thanks for the pic's of the Broiler,gave me goose bumps, use to cruise and eat there with my wife. See it next year when I visit family in Bellflower. Thanks Jack.

 

Kevin, Thanks for keeping the thread alive and keeping us informed. Spent many friday nights cruising there. My family there has also sent me articles on what has been happening with the Broiler. Thanks Jack

 

http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_13344104?source=rv

From todays Long Beach Press Telegram.
60'

 

linkie no workie

 

Try it now Denise ! Sorry bout that ! I hope to see you girls on the 26th !

 

Great article.
See ya then!

 

Tune in to Channel 2 at 6pm to see Bob's Big Boy Broiler as of TODAY! The news broadcast is also running on Channel 9.

You can also view it online at:

http://cbs2.com/local/Bobs.Big.Boy.2.1187629.html

 

These were some shots taken by Adriene yesterday....



the property owner, Christos Smyrniotis and the EcoSign man, Jim Simington


Analisa, Adriene, some ugly guy, and Lindsey Louder, the general manager of the new Bob's Big Boy


Arnold Adler, local newsman, who's been on the story from the beginning


Helen Burns, who was at Harvey's in 1958. She was the one who called the police when the illegal demolition was taking place on a Sunday a few years ago.


Helen, Adriene and Analisa...


...and with former Mayor Cartozian




Project Manager, Brian Bailey, and owner Jim Louder


from the end of the original parking lot

 

thats great..hope to see it VERY soon

 

Kevin, Adriene, or anyone that knows,

Will The new broiler be using the full parking lot all the way to Old River School Road?

.

 

I would go but my '55 got messed up.

 

Well if we get enough people at the cruises and general customers, we'll have to use it. My dream is to see that canopy full all the time with people eating in their cars like they used to.

If that happens then the lot will become the overflow lot and Nissan will allow us to use it as long as we can justify needing it, for the 26ths car show, it will be used. If ya can make that, come on out.

 

I see that car at the Van Nuys Bl cruises, It's so sweet! Can't believe that happpened. Get some studs or an axle back in, pound out the 1/4 and make the trek to Downey, You'd have a helluva story to tell.

 

Kevin, you have a PM

 

Thanks for posting the new pics. Seeing the faces that made it happen have added a whole new dimension for me. I'm really looking forward to seeing the place and meeting some new friends on the 26th!

 

<SCRIPT language=JavaScript> var requestedWidth = 0; </SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript> if(requestedWidth < 300){ requestedWidth = 300; } </SCRIPT> 091509- Officials were on hand during a ceremony inveigling Bob's Big Boy at the former heavily damaged Johnie's Broiler in Downey. The famous restaurant is now a Bob's Big Boy and is slated to open in mid October. Stephen Carr/ Press-Telegram



<SCRIPT language=JavaScript> if(requestedWidth > 0){ document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.width = requestedWidth + "px"; document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.margin = "0px 0px 10px 10px"; } </SCRIPT>Photo Gallery: Johnie's now Big Boy

DOWNEY - The illegal demolition of Johnie's Broiler on the first days of 2007 drew a record number of protesters to City Hall.
"We like our burgers in Downey," City Manager Gerald Caton said of a city that can back up that claim as home of the world's oldest McDonald's.
Constituents' enthusiasm for ground patties served with a side of mid-century nostalgia, brought the City Council and city management to a Tuesday walk-through of what will soon reopen as a Bob's Big Boy on Firestone Boulevard near Old River School Road.
This is no Johnie's-come-lately. Built from the original 1958 plans of Harvey's Broiler, the predecessor to Johnie's, the 185-seat Big Boy will closely resemble the Googie restaurant Downey residents loved, albeit it serving a new menu.
Jim Louder, who holds the diner's franchise, hopes to open the restaurant in mid-October. He has hired 185 employees to cover 6,500 square feet inside, as well as the parking lot carhop.
City Hall committed about $900,000 in redevelopment money, which came from a federal grant, to help cover some of the costs over a number of years, said Gilbert Livas, deputy city manager. The new owner used as much of the old materials as could be salvaged from Johnie's, including decorative rock walls, red support beams and some original
signage.

Other touches resurrected from the poodle skirt era, but not the demolition site, include "popcorn" ceilings, linoleum floors and red-and-white checkerboard wall tiles.
The red cursive "Broiler" sign remains visible. It will advertise Bob's Big Boy instead of Johnie's.
Big Boy's familiar logo - a chubby chef in suspenders hoisting a burger on a plate - was unveiled Tuesday by Louder and the council.
Though steeped in nostalgia, there are plenty of modern touches, including a stainless steel kitchen, where a worker's dust-covered radio blared "The Logical Song" by Supertramp.
It is unlikely future diners will hear the 1979 hit when the greasy spoon reopens.
"I've got a jukebox coming, a 1958 jukebox," said Louder, who also owns a Big Boy in Torrance. "It plays records."
Louder has a tall order in restoring a beloved fixture that dates to Downey's Space Age heyday, making it an authentic setting in "Pulp Fiction" and other films.
The restaurant, which had tall windows allowing diners a great view of Firestone, closed in 2002 and later became a used car lot.
Then, in 2007, Ardas Yanik, who leased the 2-acre property from owner Christos Smyrniotis - a cook at the original Harvey's - demolished most of the building before the city stepped in and forced the workers to stop.
Lucky thing. The demolition crew failed to turn off the power, said Mario Guerra, the current mayor.
Yanik pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor charges.
Louder signed a lease agreement with Smyrniotis to rebuild Johnie's as a Bob's Big Boy, incorporating Johnie's surviving architectural elements.
Preservationists, as well as classic car buffs who loved gathering at the diner, lauded the decision.
Fans are going to have to idle a bit longer. Still a work in progress, there is plenty to do before next month's opening.
For one thing, the tables haven't been installed. Even so, Guerra has already picked a corner spot by the door. "This is going to be the City Council booth, right here," he said.

 

Thanks for the updates and great coverage of the rebuild and unveiling

 

Thanx to all those thar came to the HAMB potluck. It was a great meet n greet.

 

Thanks a lot Keivin for the great time. It may have been small but it was a great time and I really liked getting an inside look at the broiler before it opens. It was a pleasure to finally meet Adriene, Lindsey and Jim. We also had a surprise visitor. Sam Hollingsworth showed up with his wife in her T-Bird. They happen to be driving by and saw us there and pulled in. For those of you who do not know Sam he is the guy that biult the Nomad on the May 67 Rod and Custom cover.

Thanks again to Kevin, Jim, Adriene, Lindsey and Joe for putting on a HAMB Meet and Greet. Since I arrived so late I did not get a chance to take any pics.