This building is a notable example of the Googie-style coffee shops and drive-in restaurants that once dotted Southern California. Designed so the building itself would act as a sign to attract customers, it was built in 1958 by owner Harvey Ortner as Harvey’s Broiler and featured exaggerated roofs, dazzling signs, bright lighting, and glass walls. In 1966, former cook Christos Smyrniotis bought the restaurant and operated it as Johnie’s Broiler until it closed in February 2002. From 2002 to 2007, the building served as a used car dealership, then suffered extensive damage when the tenant illegally demolished a large portion of it. The City of Downey and Bob’s Big Boy, supported by concerned citizens and the Los Angeles Conservancy, then created a plan to conserve and rebuild Johnie’s Broiler. On August 12, 2008, the Downey City Council voted to provide financial assistance to revive the historic landmark under the name Bob’s Big Boy, continuing the legacy of a classic American coffee shop and drive-in restaurant.
