Mission Family Restaurant - gone but not forgotten

Friend of the blog, David Allen, has a new piece about the shuttered Mission Family Restaurant.

The David Allen Blog

From LAist.com - Meet the waitresses....

Meet the Waitresses - 1986

 

Surly 80s waitresses at Canter's and Du-Par's? Sounds fun.  

Milt's Coffee Shop in Enchanting Bakersfield

#1DinerWife and I were taken over by wanderlust not too long ago and found ourselves in enchanting Bakersfield. For lunch one day we went to Milt's Coffeeshop.  

I love this megalithic sign.

Inside is decorated with murals depicting the area through different decades.

The service was not great. They were busy, yes, but our waiter seemed to be a social floater. He'd stop and chit chat with other tables while we waited around for him.

Biscuits and Gravy

Chicken and Waffles

Pumpkin Pancakes

Food: Decent, but not anything special.

Service: For us, lacking.

Price: Decently price for the quality. $7 to $10.

Pie: Assorted.

NORMS needs you!

Norms vote on May 20th



UPDATE-

We did it!

It's now a landmark.

On the Road - New York Diners via Gregoire Alessandrini

Lost New York City Diners

From The Architects Newspaper

Alan Hess says Googie is as modern as a Craig Ellwood house.

Jan's Family Restaurant

Jan's has closed.

I never reviewed Jan's. In truth, I had actually only been there once (had a slice of blueberry pie, it was adequate). It is sad to see another piece of coffee shop history disappear.

Another Norms update- courtesy of Los Angeles magazine.

From the article-
This week he told me his plan: To build a “community of shops” where the parking lot now stands. He envisions renting to tenants similar to those on Abbot Kinney in Venice or in the Brentwood Country Mart. “We’re trying to curate the experience,” he says. “We want it to feel authentic.” The developer has come to admire Norms’ architecture and hopes the neighborhood, the Conservancy, and future patrons will appreciate his vision for the landmark. “It’s such a beautiful building and that sign is just like fucking awesome,” he says."

On one hand I have no idea what "feel authentic" means in this context, but I am given some hope that he thinks the sign is "fucking awesome."

The rest of the article is distressing.

 http://www.lamag.com/askchris/exclusive-new-owner-norms-reveals-plans-legendary-site/#sthash.TbfOsaX4.QK1UnrQO.dpuf

Twain's in Studio City has quietly passed on...

...or so it seems.

A two week renovation....has taken months.

Twain's wasn't the best, but it will hold a special place for us. #1DinerWife and I were married across the street and still in our wedding best we walked over and they let us take pictures inside.

It was also featured in the Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet romantic comedy "A Lot Like Love."

UPDATE -

Twain's will be bulldozed and a nightmare of awfulness will take its place.

UPDATE -

Sharkey's will incorporate some of the original design into the new restaurant.

Classics Week on Curbed

Googie Diners Feature on Curbed and Eater LA.

New owners have demo permit for La Cienega NORMS.

From the LA Conservancy-
On January 5, the new owner of Norms applied for and received a permit to demolish the building at 470-478 La Cienega Boulevard.

Los Angeles is a cemetery of great and important mid-century buildings destroyed and buried under uninspiring gas stations, Jamba Juices and "luxury" condos. We have to save the few we have left.

  Norms on Fire by Ed Ruscha

TO HELP SAVE NORMS, please contact City Council member Paul Koretz (District 5) and ask him to support the Historic-Cultural Monument nomination for Norms La Cienega Coffee Shop! 


City Councilmember Paul Koretz 
200 North Spring Street, Suite 440 
Los Angeles, CA 90012 
Phone: 213-473-7005 
Email: paul.koretz@lacity.org


ETA - The City Cultural Heritage Commission has voted to look into the possibility of monument status. This means no wrecking balls in the near future but the fight is still on.

From LA Magazine - Norms chain sold

Norms sold.

Let's hope the new owner doesn't change a thing...except maybe the food. The food honestly could be a bit better.