The Broiler is back! Nearly three years after its partial demolition, the original Harveys Broiler, and
longtime Johnies Broiler, reopened in its third incarnation as Bobs Big Boy Broiler in October 2009.
The Broilers comeback is nothing short of miraculous, standing as a testament to the tireless efforts of
the Coalition to Rebuild the Broiler, the City of Downey, franchise owner Jim Louder, Modern Commit-
tee chair emeritus Adriene Biondo, and others who work to ensure its resurrection.
When it opened in 1958, Harveys Broiler was the largest drive-in ever built in Southern California.
It quickly became an integral part of the regions cruising culture. The combination coffee shop/drive-
in restaurant featured a boomerang-shaped car canopy with ninety-eight covered parking spaces. The
restaurant was sold in 1965, and the new owner renamed it Johnies Broiler.
On December 31, 2001, its owner closed the Broiler and leased it to a new tenant who operated it as
a used car lot. This period saw several unauthorized alterations to the building, including the dismantling
of the kitchen, removal of the counter seating, and removal of portions of the terrazzo floors.
The final blow came on January 7, 2007, when a rag-tag wrecking crew started bulldozing without
permits, fencing off the property, disconnecting the electricity, or completing asbestos abatement. Only a
portion of the front facade and its distinctive signage, including the famous Fat Boy mascot, remained.
After intense public outcry, the Downey City Council moved quickly to impose a year-long develop-
ment moratorium on the site. Spurred by the citys commitment of $900,000 toward the reconstruction
project, Bobs Big Boy franchise owner Jim Louder entered into a long-term lease in April 2008.
Patrons enjoy the beautifully reconstructed interior of Bobs
Big Boy with a photo of the original Harveys Broiler as
backdrop. Photo by John Eng.
plans to reclaim the Googie landmark from the
pile of debris left in the wake of its destruction.
The Coalition to Rebuild the Broiler and the
Conservancy worked closely with the City
of Downey, Archeion Nevada architects, and
preservation consultant Chattel Architecture
to help ensure that the project preserved much
of what remained while staying faithful to
the original design. Schematic drawings for
the new restaurant were based on the original
blueprints by Harveys architect Paul Clayton.
Although not an exact reconstruction of
the original Broiler, the new building exhibits
an attention to detail that is remarkable. The
massive broiler neon sign was restored and
sensitively adapted for its new moniker, with a vintage Big Boy statue purchased by Jim Louder on eBay
and hauled down from Sacramento on a flatbed truck. Much of the historic terrazzo was retained, with
new infill terrazzo selected to match the original; the rock walls were salvaged and meticulously rebuilt;
and even the textured popcorn ceiling was reapplied to the reconstructed soffit. With Big Boy gleefully
rotating on his former perch, Fat Boy is now enjoying retirement propped up next to the rebuilt canopy
and basking in the glow of the Broilers re-lit neon.
Not only does this project restore a historic icon for our city and preserve a part of our legacy,
beams former Downey Mayor Mario Guerra, but it also provides tremendous benefits to the city from
an economic development standpoint by creating a viable business venture that employs 185 people.
The Broilers reopening is the culmination of years of grassroots advocacy, originating long before
the illegal demolition. The Conservancys Modern Committee was an early leader, helping to establish
the Friends of Johnies in 2002 and spearheading efforts to qualify the building for the California Reg-
ister. In the wake of the Broilers partial destruction, the Friends of Johnies re-grouped as the Coalition
to Rebuild the Broiler, forming an alliance of preservationists, vintage car enthusiasts, and students.
The amazing story of resurrecting the Broiler is definitely one for the history books, muses Adriene
Biondo. A half-century later, the innovative Googie architecture and fabulous 1950s signage is again
stopping traffic on Firestone Boulevard. What was old is new again, as families and a new generation
of SoCal cruisers rediscover carhop service and experience a real 1958 drive-in.
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