Previous blog post coverage of southern California restaurants include:
Marcel & Jeanne's French Cafe, Montebello, Cal.
Limehouse, Los Angeles, Cal.
Yama Japanese Restaurant, Alhambra, Cal.
Here's more:
Yama Restaurant
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| The above postcard advertised modernized decor at this Alhambra restaurant, but their efforts backfired and soon the place closed up |
Woolworth's
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| Woolworth built a novel lunch counter about 1937 at 4th & Broadway, Los Angeles |
An earlier F.W. Woolworth Co. building stood since 1920 about three blocks away at 7th & Broadway. Notice the merchandise on the right side of the postcard - items were displayed in bins, rather than on shelves.
Ontra Cafeteria
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| Ontra Cafeteria |
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| From the backside of the postcard |
Fitch Cafe
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| Operated by G.W. Fitch between 1914 and 1917, an example of the perpetual high turnover in the restaurant business |
Statler Center Drug Store
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| The Statler Hotel provided some lucky hotel residents with views of the Harbor Freeway |
Today, the Wilshire Grand Center has replaced it.
Below, the Statler's amenities included a swanky drug store...and look to the lower right...counter seating for a casual meal?
Tommy Wong's
Earliest listing found was in the 1938 city directory. 110 West Macy Street would have been on the south side of Cesar Estrada Chavez Avenue today where now is an open-air parking lot. '38 was also the beginning of China City, a tourist compound across the street.
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| Matchbook inside graphic |
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| Matchbook cover |
San Quentin Dining Room, South Building
When I spotted this postcard, I was drawn to the oddness. Later I learned that the mural was created by prisoner Alfredo Santos in the mid 1950s.
Papa Cristo's
Operating from the corner of Normandie and Pico in Los Angeles since 1948, it closed in early May, 2025.
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| Photos taken by E. Uyeda |
