Branches Clifton's Cafeteria

1 branches

1.1 founding branch: clifton s pacific seas
1.2 surviving branch: clifton s brookdale
1.3 lakewood
1.4 west covina

1.4.1 eastland shopping center
1.4.2 westfield shopping center


1.5 century city
1.6 silver spoon
1.7 woodland hills
1.8 laguna hills
1.9 whittier
1.10 san bernardino

branches

circa 1939, wpa-sponsored american guide series los angeles guidebook described chain thusly: clifton’s brookdale, 648 s. broadway, , clifton s cafeteria of golden rule, 618 s. olive st. organ music , singing attendants. novel feature @ both places bulletin board outside entrance, listings displayed employment, barter, sightseeing, , appeals congenial friendship. @ brookdale country atmosphere has been created artificial trees, vines, brook, , waterfall. inexpensive.

founding branch: clifton s pacific seas

clifton s pacific seas postcard circa 1940s

in 1931, clinton leased distressed cafeteria location @ 618 south olive street in los angeles , founded customers referred cafeteria of golden rule . patrons obliged pay felt fair, according neon sign flashed pay wish.

in 1939, founders of clifton’s remodeled restaurant change conventional dining establishment more exotic setting , renamed clifton s pacific seas . exterior decorated waterfalls, geysers , tropical foliage. brightly illuminated in evening, became mecca tourists , angelenos alike, being referred in same category other prominent landmarks of downtown los angeles, such angels flight, olvera street, , pershing square. initially, los angeles architectural commission unhappy facade , decor threatened suit.

one of many interior themes of pacific seas included garden setting done in period ad 33. garden first conceived clifford e. clinton in 1943 interpretation of famous artist heinrich hofmann s christ in gethsemane. clinton commissioned sculptor marshall lakey fashion life-sized figure of christ, kneeling in prayer. mural behind christ, depicting city of jerusalem , garden of gethsemane painted artist einar c. petersen.

clifton s pacific seas visited jack kerouac wrote in on road of visiting cafeteria downtown decorated grotto, metal tits spurting everywhere , great impersonal stone buttockses belonging deities , soapy neptune. people ate lugubrious meals around waterfalls, faces green marine sorrow .

in 1960, although three-story structure cascading waterfall facade had become landmark on preceding 29 years, original clifton s pacific seas closed, building razed, , location turned parking lot, has remained since then.

surviving branch: clifton s brookdale

inside clifton s brookdale

with still-existing motto of dine free unless delighted , clifton s second golden rule opened in 1935 when clifford clinton purchased lease of former boos brothers cafeteria @ 648 s broadway in los angeles.

having himself spent time youth santa cruz mountains not far brookdale lodge, chose redecorate facility in 1939 pattern after lodge. working rock sculptor francois scotti, clifford created 20-foot waterfall cascading quiet stream meandered through dining room, past faux redwood trees used conceal room s steel columns. renowned los angeles muralist, einar c. petersen, created life size forest on canvas cover 1 wall, , small chapel set among crags fulfill clifford s desire feed soul body of depression-weary angelinos. after refurbishment, renamed location clifton s brookdale . interior includes stuffed moose head, animated raccoons, , fishing bear.

the restaurant described 1 of last vestiges of old broadway in downtown los angeles, interior looks down-at-the-heels disney version of twilight forest . in june 2006, co-owner robert clinton took final steps purchase broadway building had been leasing 71 years. on 600 seats on 3 floors, , known today clifton s cafeteria , noted oldest cafeteria in los angeles , largest public cafeteria in world. third floor includes party room, banquet room, , many pictures of clifford , nelda clinton. there secret room on upper floor. there set of restrooms down stairs in bottom basement. restaurant s busiest period in 1940s, many 10,000 customers forming lines down broadway, of 2009 clifton s still regularly serves 1,800 2,000 daily.

in september 2010, clifton s brookdale sold nightclub operator andrew meieran, stated intends preserve food , atmosphere of establishment. on september 26, 2011, cafeteria closed remodeling, planned last 3 6 months while restaurant gets new kitchen , redesigned serving area. in february 2012, remodeling process continued unveiling of original 1904 building facade, revealed through removal of 1963 aluminum facade. meieran estimated cafeteria reopen in 18 months.

during renovations, partition wall removed, revealing neon light still switched on, apparently having been lit continuously 77 years. may oldest continuously illuminated neon light in world. director of museum of neon art called discovery incredible .

the revamped restaurant have multiple eating , drinking establishments inside building, including bakery, version of original 1935 classic cafeterias on ground , second floors, old-school steakhouse on third floor, , polynesian-themed tiki bar on fourth floor, named south seas in honor of original 1931 facility. combined-use building include museum called clifton’s cabinet of curiosities . while restoration of clifton’s @ 648 s. broadway has had delays, goal of andrew meieran re-open facility in 2015. restaurant reopened october 1, 2015.

lakewood

in january 1955, announced lakewood center in lakewood, california, in 1956 become location third clifton s cafeteria. in 2001, after 44 years of service, restaurant closed branch due business slowdown.

west covina
eastland shopping center

in 1958, clifton s opened in west covina, california @ eastland shopping center. in 1978 clifton s moved west covina fashion plaza, called westfield west covina, stayed in business until 2003.

westfield shopping center

the greenery

in 1978, after moving original west covina location due expiring lease, clifton s relocated inside westfield shoppingtown west covina , renamed greenery garden theme. in 2003 branch closed, leaving clifton s brookdale @ 7th , broadway last of once 8-store chain.

century city

in 1965, ground broken in century city, california, 1966 opening of new branch. outlet operated on 20 years before closing @ end of 1986.

silver spoon

in 1975, company opened clifton s silver spoon @ 515 w. 7th street, los angeles. marshall lakey statue of christ, had been placed in storage upon closure of pacific seas in 1960, returned display when new garden created in new location. in 1997, silver spoon location closed , in 1998 lakey statue of christ relocated holyland exhibit in los angeles. scenes brad pitt film fight club shot in silver spoon s location.

woodland hills

clifton s opened branch in woodland hills, california. closed.

laguna hills

in 1987, clifton s opened branch in laguna hills, california across main entrance leisure world. 12 years of operation, senior citizens accounted 90% of restaurant s clientele. closed in 1999, dismay of local long-time patrons frequented gathering place.

whittier

in 1981, clifton’s opens @ whittier quad shopping center, offering more 100 à la carte menu items.

san bernardino

in 1974, clifton s opens in san bernardino @ inland center mall.