There's a thread about old gas stations, but is there a thread about the interior of them? The interiors were at times as spectacular designed as the exterior. I'd like to see counter area setups, and diner pictures too. Thinking of building a very small coffee shop at my farm to unwind with friends. Need some pictures for ideas. If there is already a thread for this please send me in that direction.
Gotta wonder who thought it was a good idea to have employees wear white uniforms in a working garage environment.
It was all about projecting a clean, professional image, promoted by the major oil/gas companies. Their idea was that they projected a better public image than the independents, which were generally owned by individuals, whereas the oil companies owned most of their stations and leased them to operators. They pretty much called the shots over their retailers, controlling pricing, appearance, location, even to the extent of conducting 'sanitary inspections' on rest rooms. They kept stations under their thumbs, even in situations in which the owner/operator owned the land and building, but leased pumps (and sometimes tanks, lube racks, displays, etc.) from the companies. If you leased a station from the company, you played by their rules, and image was everything! "You can trust your car to the man that wears the star"
Oh, I pretty much knew why they did that, just think it's a bad idea. Huge pain in the ***. Maybe if they paid for uniforms and laundry bills it wouldn't bother me too much.
Hello, In So Cal, there are two distinct 50s diner groups that are very popular. One is the famous Ruby’s Diners all over the place (indoor malls/outlet centers, etc) with one hot rod diner location on the Coast Highway of South Laguna Beach. It is a one of a kind, with similar dinette set up, but a gob of 50s old cars out in front day and night. The top floor is an ocean view seating arrangement and the food… well, it is diner food. They are pretty nice with red booths and funky outfits for the wait staff. The restaurants, all look and smell the same, while several are located on the ends of piers sticking out into the Pacific Ocean. But, they are also getting to the point of being overtaken by city management and some have closed. The other group of 50s diners is called Woody’s with locations along the coastal cities and a couple located miles inland. But, they are loaded with similar booths, old historic photos of each location and create the atmosphere of being in an old historic diner from our little kid days. The Woody’s Diner is more to our liking and the food is delicious. We used to frequent the old one in Sunset Beach and Huntington Beach, but have now settled on the Lido Isle part of Newport Beach as the coolest location, just steps away from the bay and harbors. You will have to check out their websites for other location photos and stuff that is different in each diner. free gifts for old and young alike… Jnaki We haven’t been to any of the 50s diner location during the pandemic, but it was always nice to stop in for some 50s style comfort food when out and about. Now, the locations are within a cool road trip North and South along the coastline, but the restrictions of the pandemic does not create a good environment. They will still be there after the whole world gets a firm grip on this world wide health issue. https://www.woodysdiners.com/ There is only one other place that would draw us in and that would be the OC location of Ruby's Auto Diner located in South Laguna Beach. It is a one of a kind location and one that we enjoy the atmosphere. As we make our coastal drives, even during the pandemic, that auto diner just looks tempting. Since we know its history, but, we keep telling ourselves, it will still be there when this craziness if officially over. For my wife and me, this South Laguna Beach location brings back memories from our time together in Laguna Beach as 20 somethings with our 327 powered Ford Sedan Delivery. If anyone was driving down the highway, the red sedan delivery would have stood out as the parking lot was the view point for highway travelers. Also, much earlier when my teenage, flathead 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery would be parked out in front of the original business called DUKE'S Family Restaurant. It was owned by a dentist and his family from South Laguna Beach. The food was outstanding and always healthy portions for everyone. The location for teenagers was perfect as the waves of Dana Point and Salt Creek were just around the bend on the coastline. Ruby's did not come into play until much later...
Thanks JNAKI We by stopped Ruby's on the Huntington beach pier. Here's a few photos. Great food and made lots of great memories too!
Hey Ron, Nice coverage. It seems like a traditional place with lots of customers on a daily basis. But, the sad thing is, it may possibly be on its way out. The city fathers are considering a new replacement restaurant in the place of that huge Ruby's. The new one is supposedly going to bring in a new stream of income for the city and that is, for them, a good thing. It is too bad if it takes place, but if anyone is driving down or up the coast through Huntington Beach, it seems like the city does not know if they want to be called surf city or slab city. The area around the pier is/was the downtown center attraction. Now, it is tall buildings, resorts and in no way looks like the Huntington Beach of old. It has become a bad Westcoast version of the Miami Beach area. Just go down PCH South to see those huge monstrosities that are called the resorts and it is like no other beach town. Driving by the ocean is a great way to calm down, see nature at its best and enjoy all that a beach has to offer. But, not at the expense of tearing down old historic buildings and building monstrosities that are for the rich and clueless. It is not as pleasurable as the drive once was and it seems like congestion at its finest. Our hot rods and cruisers used to frequent the Coast Highway to the pier and down farther South into Newport Beach. It is like night and day. Huntington with their monstrosities and no idea of a beach town versus Newport Beach Coast Highway that still has the feeling of being a California Beach Town/City without overgrowth along the main thoroughfare. Jnaki So, for your pandemic crazy travelers, if you like the old style Ruby's Restaurant on the end of one of the coolest piers, get a move on, as it might not be there in the future. The pier has always been a place with good waves and a nice beach overall, but is now used as a protest center, due to the busy intersection at Main Street and PCH. Pandemic or not... At least the Ruby's Auto Diner in South Laguna Beach 18 miles down the coast, is still going strong and healthy.
The Jalopy Journal
