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

I found a few old pics in an album of a car show at Johnie's. In the first pic you can see signage on the canopy, it says DRIVE IN does anyone know if that would be put back on with the rebuilding?

Here's a shot of the sign from behind the broiler.

I took these on June 14, 2000.

 

Here are a few pics from that same car show at Johnie's.

 

I've tried to talk Jim into putting back the DRIVE-IN sign on both sides, It will only be in the front this time though. I have the broken up drive in letters, They were mangled in the original demo, then the hazardous clean up crew wreaked more havoc on what was left with a Bobcat.
New COFFEE SHOP and DRIVE-IN letters are being rebuilt based on the original achitectural drawing that we supplied to Jim and subsequently he furnished to the sign company. The will be exactly like the originals.
I have the mangled ones at home,Maybe I'll pound them out and see if what I have left can be re-used.

Thank you for posting the cool pics

 

Hang them on your garage wall.

 

Its a good thing in the end. New building with up-to-date mechanicals etc and old look.

 

Hey guys... sorry for being 'that guy', but I'm at work and I don't have time to go through every page to find out what's going on. Can someone give me some cliff notes on the subject? Gene didn't even know it had been torn down! I gotta get the whole story so I know what to tell him.

 

The World Famous Harvey's Broiler was torn down illegally on Jan 7,2007 @ 3:30pm, It was stopped by Friends of Johnie's and the police only after it was determined that the demo was truly illegal. Lights,Gas and Water were still left on and no demo fence,
Guy was charged,went to court and plea bargin was struck. 3wks freeway clean up,$15k fine and a slap on the wrist. He is partners in a property that is now for sale directly accross the street from the Broiler.
A building moritorium was put put into place on Jan 27,07 and came off in Jan 08, A deal was struck with the property owner and a month later a operator was found that would rebuild the building much as it had originally been right down to Drive In service (so use it when you visit).
The city agreed to kick in some dough and we were off, new drawings were secured and building and planning took place and she is on her way to coming back.
Would love to see Gene and you there in whatever brings you there.
So That's It In a Nutshell.

 

I was in the area so I thought I would check out the construction. There were recent pictures posted but I thought I would add mine anyway.

It's pretty small, but I managed to catch a plane coming into LAX in this shot.

 

Cool pix CG, alot of progress keeps it getting closer. Jim is pretty excited and stressed as well as us. All of a sudden many "Car Show = Lawn Chair Rodders are coming out of the woodwork like termites attract to it and keep approaching Jim with their version of a cruise nite. I indicated to Jim that this is a HAMB supported cruise spot (has been from the demo all the way to the anniversary cruise in Jan 09).

Please do what you can to attend the Wednesday cruise night when it opens and perhaps we can add in Friday or Sat nights as well if that's what you guys want.
I am really trying to not have the raffle and trophy type kind of thing here that split right after a 50/50 so that this place will survive.

Fund raisers will be different and will include the Trophy deal and maybe a raffle-auction that will only go to a charity.

We are going to need your help here so email or pm me if you want to help set up and run the cruise like it used to happen back when.

 

Just went by there today. I was dropping off a buddy at the dealership accross the street. Looks like most of the framing is almost done. Glad to see its being rebuilt!

 

Hi Kevin, Looks like everything is moving along.
I am sure you have seen this video but I didn't see
the link posted so I decided to post it !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPO7ZC--XzY

The wife and I are going to try and make it down in Sept.

keep posting the updates,

Once this one gets going Jim needs to open one in Cen. Cal.
along the 99 corridor we really need somethig like this up here.

thanks again for all you have done.

 

This is Mearle's and it is in Central Cal right off 99 in Visalia on Mooney Ave. It too needs some saving, Last time I heard a permit had been taken out to repair the roof. The owner took down some of the Awning that provided shade for the cars. It really hadn't been operated as a drive in for a long while, but in 86 I took my vette there and again in 93 I stopped by in my 55 Bird coing back from Los Banos for the Kustoms show there.

I have spoke of this place before. It too needs a saviour so perhaps Rusty Gem, this could be "your save". I have spoken with Jim about it before and Bob's corporate management as well . If it were up to me, I'd keep it a Mearle's,restore it to the 9's and promote the heck out of it. Stopped in and saw it again April 07 after the closure.
Don't let what happened to the Mooney Drive In Theatre happen to this-Heck the developer can't even get a loan to build on that site now .

If your town needs something like this, make it happen by becoming involved
(Update: Not long after we opened BBBB, Mearle's was saved-repurposed as a Habit, here's what it looks now in 2016).
Glad that it's saved.

 

I saw Harveys on a movie sunday called JAWBREAKER form the 90's it is in the opening scene..

 

Get hold of Richard Carpenter.

 

Richard now lives in the Agoura Hills-Thousand Oaks area now. He has a killer car collection. Wasn't too interested 2 &1/2 yrs ago. It's on its way back

 

Hey Kevin, I drove by The Broiler this past Sunday and it is really amazing how fast and far things have come along. You have done a great job keeping the fight going. I hope I can be there on opening night.
Thank you,
60'

 

Rob,
Couldn't have done it w/o your help as well so a BIG THANK YOU to you as well
Can you believe that Jim may have it done in about a month? All I can say is that it is truly a dream come true! And well worth the effort! We'll let ya know when All Roads Will lead to the Broiler! thanx 4 hangin in there with us!

 

I really gotta make the grand opening

 

Can't wait to eat a Big Boy combo in my car WITH A CHOCOLATE SHAKE!!!!!

 

It may even be in a Silver Gobblet!

 

It has been deemed a historical landmark! so they cant tear it down, just restore it, but in what century

 

You know it's funny you brought this up Kevin, we have one of those pictures where the car lights and other lights light up it is a pic of Mearle's and I used to have an ice cream palour in Merced. I saw on the TV news when Mearles closed up and thought at the time it was tragic. Unfortunitly it's a little far south for me, but I did drive to Altamont for the last three years sooo it is possible, if I could find a money tree. Maybe this thread will get some of the south valley HAMBers up in arms over this one.
I moved to Merced in '81 and I have watched this town continue to knock down Americana landmarks so they can put up another Subway or Pizza place, the people here don't seem to care. I have been fighting them for over 25 years. I may be coming down sometime next to help Joe with some things so I'll check out the Broiler then.

 

Cool place 4 sure! I hope that something good comes out of it.
Will talk to you when you are down

 

It would be fantastic if the "Save the Broiler" campaign and story of the revival became a flagship for a grassroots movement to preserve historic buildings. I was discussing this with friends last night at the inaugural Fatburger Cruise ( a soulless modern 'convenience' box of a restauarant), about how California is particularly bad about knocking down any building that has even the remotest possibility of being historic (and the more historic it is the keener they are to raze it) and then they whinge and are insecure about having no history. There are plenty of thousand year old buildings in Europe - go figure....

Cyclone Kevin has anyone suggested the idea of a book about the saving of the Broiler story? Proceeds to a historic Drive-In bulding preservation fund perhaps? The pioneer work has been done so it would be great to capitalize on it to enable more rescues of historic structures from the golden days of Americana.

 

Weasel,
I have discussed the possibility of a book with different "known authors" and I'd like no better for it to happen. Since you originate in Europe as a 1st gen transplant, Do you feel that this is a regional issue or would a publisher risk the investment of printing a book about a local Drive In restaurant?
I feel as you, there are many places to be saved.

 

Progress is moving along. Lots of things that make me do a double take are going on now. I swear that it must have felt like this when the place was built originally.
The A/C duct work in the original dining room will resemble what was there at time of demo. The second larger dining room is going to be the only all new thing in the place. I hope that you guys will enjoy all of the work that is going into making the Broiler look much as it once did. It is after all for you to experience and enjoy .

 

SEPTEMBER 19th on the calendar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The day before my $@#^*)$ 59th!!! UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll be there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Cool story I have not been to a drive in in years since they closed the last one down here....

 

hope its a COKE not pepsi place...................

 

Any new pics.... anyone...