Johnie’s Broiler > Bob’s Big Boy
(But we’ll take what we can get)
Downey has a few cultural landmarks–funnily enough, all of them related to fast food. Oldest McDonalds? Yep. First Taco Bell? Yep.
But our pride and joy has always been Johnie’s Broiler, a 1950s Googie-style diner located at 7447 Firestone Blvd.
Having grown up in Downey, Johnie’s has been a fixture in my life since as far back as I can remember. Every time it appeared in movies (License to Drive! Heat!), it was a cue to go get a milkshake.
When The Broiler’s illegal demolition began back in 2007, residents and preservationists called police and halted the bulldozers. Since then, The Broiler’s future has been uncertain.
Car-hoppers rejoice! Hot rodders, start your engines! According to Downey’s local paper, Johnie’s current owner and reps from Bob’s Big Boy have reached a tentative lease agreement. Under the agreement, the architecture will be restored, the diner will be fully-functional, and the weekend car-hops will continue.
Photo by Wiki user Astroluxe under a CC license.
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Woohoo, I’m in. If they toss in a cruise night I’ll take the drapes off my class, spit polish the acres of chrome and show up with my beastie.
Is Lilly Tomlin still working the counter?
Will Michael Douglas come in and ask for a ride from his helltrip in Mexico?
So many unanswered questions!
As a Downey lifer, I’m cautiously optimistic about the deal. I really hope Bob’s goes through with the plan, because I don’t have any faith in the current owner for letting the historic diner get turned into a used car lot. (As if we really need more used car lots in the city?)
And I’m convinced the Downey City Council wouldn’t know the Parthenon was a historical property even if it landed on them À la the Wizard of Oz.