Harvey's Broiler was the largest drive-in restaurant in Southern California and soon became the hub of the 1950s car cruising culture. Widely considered the best remaining example of 1950s Googie drive-in architecture, the Broiler was renamed Johnie's in 1968 and operated continuously until it closed for good on New Year's Eve 2001. In 2008, Bob's Big Boy franchise operator Jim Louder agreed to rebuild the Broiler and operate it as a Bob's Big Boy restaurant.
Our BeginningsBob's Big Boy Broiler
Home of the ORIGINAL Double Decker Hamburger!
Back in 1958, on the site of a poultry farm in Downey, Harvey and Minnie Ortner opened their dream restaurant, "Harvey's Broiler". The Ortner's hired local architect Paul Clayton to design their restaurant. The restaurant was to be built on the bend of firestone blvd. Clayton took advantage of the location and designed the restaurant to appear as if drivers were coming towards a restaurant that was sitting in the middle of the highway! With a towering Jet Age neon sign and acres of parking, under a cool 50's boomerang canopy, Harvey's Broiler literally stopped traffic!Just as in the classic film "American Grafitti", 50's drive-in restaurants served as the hub for teenagers who were old enough to drive, but not quite old enough to drink. The Broiler was an American phenomenon. It was "The Place" where the cool crowd hung out, cruised, "schmoozed", and showed off their rides, while flirting with Harvey's cute carhops.
Car customizing legends like Larry Watson and Ed "Big Daddy" Roth hung out here, too. Hot rod and custom magazines featured Harvey's action. They featured the "world's largest automotive exposition", with an unbelievable 5,000 cars rolling in on weekend nights at the restaurant. The Broiler was such as hit that teenagers tried everything to get a chance to hang out at Harvey's Broiler.
The era of the drive-in diner eventually faded. Yet, the Broiler continued to thrive. It became a prime location for local film making. The restaurant appeared in "Heat", with Robert Dinero, the "Beach Boys Story", and the Tina Turner movie, "What's Love Got to do with it?" The restaurant also provided a backdrop for various television shows, music videos, and other movies. Yet by New Years Eve of 2001, the Broiler was unceremoniously gutted and turned into a used car lot.
Death & Rebirth
One Sunday afternoon, on January 7, 2007, a bulldozer was spotted tearing down the building. No permits had been pulled and the electricity was still on at the premises. CBS Breaking News hadannounced, "Tonight a Downey landmark has been leveled." Under the pressure of concerned citizens, the City of Downey placed a one year moratorium on continued demolition of the site. Supporters of the restaurant joined forces with car clubs and hot rod enthusiasts. Letters of support, organized car rallies, and "Ghost Cruises" were done to garner support for the restaurant and to bring fans out to witness the destruction.The search was on to help find a new operator for the once spectacular landmark. Just as the moratorium was about to be lifted, the restaurant received a new lease on life. Restaurant franchise operator Jim Louder came along and saw an opportunity. Much to everyone's delight, Louder leased the property and announced his plans to rebuild a new Broiler in the same spot. He decided to base the blueprints off the original architect Paul Clayton. Louder would also collaborate with the City of Downey and the preservation community to maintain the historic significance of the restaurant.
For many months, loyal customers and fans watched with great anticipation, as construction got underway to bring new life to the once classic restaurant.
In October of 2009, under the name Bob's Big Boy Broiler, the legendary restaurant opened its doors to the public. In an atmosphere reminiscent of a bygone era of classic cars, hot rods, and carhops, Bob's Big Boy Broiler welcomed a new generation of Families to stop by and enjoy and classic Big Boy Combo. Still as popular as before, celebrities like George Barris, Jesse James, and Sandra Bullock, have made special appearances at the restaurant.
We hope you enjoy your dining experience at Bob's Big Boy Broiler, and let the good times roll!
Bob's Big Boy Broiler
LA ConsrvancyBob's Big Boy Broiler
When it opened in 1958, Harvey's Broiler was the largest drive-in restaurant in Southern California and soon became the hub of the 1950s cruising culture.
LA ConsrvancySaved
In 2008, Bob's Big Boy franchise operator Jim Louder agreed to rebuild the Broiler and operate it as a Bob's Big Boy restaurant. It opened in 2009 to great fanfare.Harvey's Broiler was the largest drive-in restaurant in Southern California when it opened in 1958. Designed by architect Paul B. Clayton, the combination coffee shop, restaurant, and drive-in sported exuberant Googie features, including a 65-foot-long sign that shone like a beacon on popular Firestone Boulevard. "The Broiler" soon became the hub of Southern California's booming 1950s cruising culture.
Widely considered the best remaining example of 1950s Googie drive-in architecture, the Broiler was renamed Johnie's in 1968 and operated continuously until it closed for good on New Year's Eve 2001.
The property served as a used-car dealership for years, with tenants neglecting the historic building and even removing original features. The grassroots Friends of Johnie's advocacy group formed soon after, working with the Conservancy's volunteer Modern Committee to designate the Broiler as a state landmark.
The Friends of Johnie's staved off threats to the landmark for years until bulldozers arrived on a Sunday afternoon in January 2007.
Working without permits the wrecking crew started bulldozing without even fencing off the property or disconnecting the utilities. Alarmed onlookers notified the police, who halted the demolition that afternoon-but not until the roadside icon lay in ruins, with only a portion of the front facade and its distinctive signage still intact.
Two days later, outraged community members filled the council chambers of Downey City Hall. The City of Downey took immediate action, prosecuting the tenant and placing a year-long development moratorium on the site.
In 2008, Bob's Big Boy franchise operator Jim Louder agreed to rebuild the Broiler and operate it as a Bob's Big Boy restaurant, with the City of Downey Redevelopment Agency making a significant contribution toward the Broiler's reconstruction. The task was extraordinary: take a historic site that had been largely destroyed and had weathered the elements for nearly two years, and reconstruct it to meet current building codes and business requirements while retaining its historic character.
The project team worked tirelessly and collaboratively to meet these challenges, meeting with the Los Angeles Conservancy and city officials and using preservation standards and original blueprints to reconstruct the Broiler as a viable business and community asset. Bob's Big Boy Broiler opened to great fanfare on October 19, 2009, rising from the ruins to reclaim its place as a great source of pride for Southern California. The Conservancy awarded this project a Preservation Award in 2010.
BOB's BIG BOY BROILER: Timeline 1958 Harvey's Broiler was the largest drive-in restaurant in Southern California when it opened in 1958. 1968 The Broiler was renamed Johnie's in 1968 and operated continuously until it closed for good on New Year's Eve 2001. 2007 Working without permits in 2007, a wrecking crew started bulldozing without fencing off the property or disconnecting the utilities. 2008 Bob's Big Boy franchise operator Jim Louder agreed to rebuild the Broiler and operate it as a Bob's Big Boy restaurant, with the City of Downey Redevelopment Agency making a significant contribution toward the Broiler's reconstruction. 2009 Bob's Big Boy Broiler opened to great fanfare on October 19, 2009 2010 The work to restore and reconstruct the building earned the project team a Conservancy Preservation Award. LOS ANGELES CONSRVANCY
Bob's Big Boy Broiler - '50s Drive-In
Downey, California:Roadside America1950s-60s drive-in demolished in 2007 and rebuilt, including the original 65 foot neon "Broiler" sign.Bob's Big Boy (Formerly Johnie's Broiler)
Johnie's Broiler was a restaurant and local favorite that appeared in several Hollywood movies. The restaurant closed on New Year's Eve 2001, and for a time became a used car dealership. On January 7, 2007, part of the restaurant was illegally demolished.In April 2008 the restaurant was purchased by Jim Louder, owner of a Bob's Big Boy in Torrance, who turned it into another Bob's Big Boy. It continues to operate as a restaurant and could be seen in the TV series Mad Men. The only part of Johnie's Broiler that remains is a boy holding a burger that was once part of the logo on the roof of the restaurant. That burger boy now stands in the parking lot.
Built in 1958 as Harvey's Broiler, the Broiler was one of the largest '50s drive-ins ever built, with parking for over 350 cars! With a lighted boomerang canopy, "The Broiler" was a famous hub of the '50s and '60 Southern California cruising scene and was The Place where famous customizing kings like Larry Watson and George Barris showed off their latest automotive creations.
After its near-complete demolition, overwhelming support led to its being rebuilt by Jim Louder, who now proudly operates it as Bob's Big Boy Broiler. Many original 50s Googie style features were retained in the reconstruction, including the original 65 foot neon "Broiler" sign and the 60s Fat Boy character who once stood atop the main sign. A spectacular sight visible for half a mile! Just around the corner from historic Speedee.
Johnie's Broiler
Johnie's Broiler, originally known as Harvey's Broiler and currently operating as Bob's Big Boy BroilerWIKIPEDIADowney, California
It first opened in 1958 by Harvey Ortner, a former partner in the Clock Broiler restaurants chain in the Los Angeles area. Due to its 1950s Googie style, the restaurant became featured in several films and TV shows. The restaurant was then renamed Johnie's Broiler in 1968 before closing in 2001. From 2002 to 2006, the building and parking lot housed a used car dealership. The building was largely demolished illegally in January 2007 by its then-lease-holder without obtaining the proper permits. The restaurant was reconstructed in 2009 with the help of preservationists and other supporters and re-opened as part of the Bob's Big Boy chain while retaining the original building's look and design.After the demolition was halted on January 7, 2007, the city council of Downey supported the efforts of citizens to preserve and restore the building. In April 2008, Jim Louder, owner of the Bob's Big Boy restaurant in Torrance, California, entered into a long-term lease agreement with Smyrniotis, the land owner. The restaurant was rebuilt with the help of Downey's Redevelopment Agency and the Downey Historical Society. Construction was completed and the restaurant opened as Bob's Big Boy Broiler in October 2009. The restaurant was rebuilt as a Bob's Big Boy Broiler which incorporated the surviving architectural elements of the old structure into the new restaurant that is based upon original blueprints.
Films & More Featured at Bob'sBobs Big Boy DowneyFilms and Bob's
Our iconic establishment has been the scene for some of Hollywood's top movies. From Heat, License to Drive, Can't Hardly Wait, Jawbreakers, She's Out of Control and many others, we have experience accommodating any filming needs.
- Bob Dylan's music video "Things Have Changed"
- One Hour Photo - 2002 Movie with Robin Williams. The outdoor neon sign is seen in the first coffee shop scene.
- The Beach Boys - An American Family - 2000 ABC-TV movie, used to depict life in the 1960s Los Angeles, complete with vintage hot rods & roadsters
- The X-Files - posed as a bus station for a 1999 episode
- Falcon Crest - a 1988 episode "Rescue Me"
- What's Love Got to Do with It - Filming location for fight scene between Ike & Tina Turner
- Can't Hardly Wait - Crane shot showing an aerial view
- Jawbreaker
- Unstrung Heroes
- Midnight Madness
- Reality Madness
- Reality Bites
- Short Cuts
- Sean Kingston's music video "Beautiful Girls"
- Madonna's music video "What It Feels Like For a Girl"
- Goodie Mob's music video "What It Ain't"
- My Stepmother Is An Alien
- Riot (1997 film)
- Matchstick Man
- Heat
- The Game
- Mission Impossible 2
- Bounce - Scene where Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Affleck exit the restaurant
- Staind's music video "For You"
- American History X - Edward Norton & younger brother stopped for breakfast.
- Mad Men - portions of the 2010 Season Finale were filmed at the newly restored restaurant.
Bob's Big Boy
- Downey, California -
Grand Opening Oct. 19, 2009The Historical Marker DatabaseLocation
33 56.855' N, 118 8.831' W
Marker is in Downey, California, in Los Angeles County. Marker is at the intersection of Firestone Boulevard and Pomering Road, on the right when traveling west on Firestone Boulevard. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7447 Firestone Blvd, Downey CA 90241, United States of America.Inscription
This building is a great example of the "Googie style" coffee shops and drive-in restaurants that once dotted the Southern California landscape. Googie Architecture called for buildings to read as signs to attract customers. Built in 1958 by owner Harvey Ortner, "Harvey's Broiler" exhibited many of the design features of Googie Architecture, including exaggerated roofs, dazzling signs, bright lighting, and glass walls. In 1966 Christos Smyrniotis, a former cook at the restaurant, purchased the restaurant and operated it under the name “Johnie's Broiler” until it closed in February 2002.
The building was operated as a used car dealership from 2002 until 2007 when it suffered extensive damage when the tenant illegally demolished a large portion of the building. However, the City of Downey and Bob's Big Boy, with support from concerned citizens and the Los Angeles Conservancy, devised a plan to conserve and rebuild Johnie's Broiler. On August 12, 2008, the Downey City Council voted to provide financial assistance to resurrect this historical landmark under the name Bob's Big Boy, another Southern California icon.
Bob's Big Boy will continue the legacy of this great American coffee shop and drive-in restaurant for all to enjoy.
When it opened in 1958, Harvey's Broiler was the largest drive-in restaurant in Southern California and soon became the hub of the 1950s car cruising culture. Widely considered the best remaining example of 1950s Googie drive-in architecture, the Broiler was renamed Johnie's in 1968 and operated continuously until it closed for good on New Year's Eve 2001. In 2008, Bob's Big Boy franchise operator Jim Louder agreed to rebuild the Broiler and operate it as a Bob's Big Boy restaurant.
