Harvey's Broiler Razed Illegally!!!!!!!!!!!!

[OLLIN]

Just went by there today. I was dropping off a buddy at the dealership accross the street. Looks like most of the framing is almost done. Glad to see its being rebuilt!

[rustygem]

Hi Kevin, Looks like everything is moving along.
I am sure you have seen this video but I didn't see
the link posted so I decided to post it !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPO7ZC--XzY

The wife and I are going to try and make it down in Sept.

keep posting the updates,

Once this one gets going Jim needs to open one in Cen. Cal.
along the 99 corridor we really need somethig like this up here.

thanks again for all you have done.

[Cyclone Kevin]

This is Mearle's and it is in Central Cal right off 99 in Visalia on Mooney Ave. It too needs some saving, Last time I heard a permit had been taken out to repair the roof. The owner took down some of the Awning that provided shade for the cars. It really hadn't been operated as a drive in for a long while, but in 86 I took my vette there and again in 93 I stopped by in my 55 Bird coing back from Los Banos for the Kustoms show there.

I have spoke of this place before. It too needs a saviour so perhaps Rusty Gem, this could be "your save". I have spoken with Jim about it before and Bob's corporate management as well . If it were up to me, I'd keep it a Mearle's,restore it to the 9's and promote the heck out of it. Stopped in and saw it again April 07 after the closure.
Don't let what happened to the Mooney Drive In Theatre happen to this-Heck the developer can't even get a loan to build on that site now .

If your town needs something like this, make it happen by becoming involved

[gr8ness13]

I saw Harveys on a movie sunday called JAWBREAKER form the 90's it is in the opening scene..

[wingspread7]

Originally Posted by Cyclone Kevin

Can you friggin believe this
The current owners of the once very famous Harvey's Broiler=Cruise spot of Watson,Roth Jacobs,Chapouris,Jeffries,Hop Up Mark and a shitload more was razed/damaged tonight w/o any city permits!

Man, I am way pissed because this very same thing almost happened to Bob's Toluca Lake in 1991 and a group of preservationists prevented that from legally happening by getting it appointed as a Historical Landmark,That place is busy 24-7, 365 & 1/4 days a year!
Mickie D's attempted to do the same a few blocks away from Harveys with the Oldest Original Style Mc Donalds on Florence/Lakewood, It too was declared an Historical Landamrk!

In reality it was never part part of the Ray Kroc contrieved chain(started in 1955-This one was built in 1953 along ith 7 others and franchised out by the Mc Donald Bros themselves) Mc Donalds always considered this particular location a "Renegade" operation but they had a 99yr lease with the bros and the corp had to honor it).
The owners sold out to the corp in 93 and in Jan 94 they closed it and the land was gonna revert back to the Pep Boys Corp, who actually owned the dirt.

Public outcry was too great and the land ended up being purchased or re-leased to the Mc D Corp and the restaurant was saved and even restored by the corp as well as adding a gift shop and museum.
It is now owned by a private franchisee who seems to be making bank!!!!
I think that is what the owner of Harveys/Johnnies felt was gonna happen!

Already the city had refused to allow a demo of the site and the signage which is (soon to be was) spectacular along with it's canopies and it unique Googies Style achitecture,This guy is not a righteous dude!!!!!

Letters need to written to the City of Downey in protest and this guy who knew what he had/has should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law due to his desecration of a very historical landmark!!!

Man. don't we have enough problems with earthquakes taking out our rich Car Culture History
This place could still even be saved!!!! Just put that SOB in the joint and find a benefactor who could fence off the joint while the legal entanglements are being dealt with and believe me, there is sure to be many now that this has hit the 11 o'clock news here in So Cal!!!!
Get to writing,
Kevin

Get hold of Richard Carpenter.

[Cyclone Kevin]

Richard now lives in the Agoura Hills-Thousand Oaks area now. He has a killer car collection. Wasn't too interested 2 &1/2 yrs ago. It's on its way back

[60'coupe]

Hey Kevin, I drove by The Broiler this past Sunday and it is really amazing how fast and far things have come along. You have done a great job keeping the fight going. I hope I can be there on opening night.
Thank you,
60'

[Cyclone Kevin]

Rob,
Couldn't have done it w/o your help as well so a BIG THANK YOU to you as well
Can you believe that Jim may have it done in about a month? All I can say is that it is truly a dream come true! And well worth the effort! We'll let ya know when All Roads Will lead to the Broiler! thanx 4 hangin in there with us!

[meatball]

I really gotta make the grand opening

[Bad Bob]

Can't wait to eat a Big Boy combo in my car WITH A CHOCOLATE SHAKE!!!!!

[Cyclone Kevin]

It may even be in a Silver Gobblet!

[Neglected Steel]

Originally Posted by Cyclone Kevin

This is Mearle's and it is in Central Cal right off 99 in Visalia on Mooney Ave. It too needs some saving, Last time I heard a permit had been taken out to repair the roof. The owner took down some of the Awning that provided shade for the cars. It really hadn't been operated as a drive in for a long while, but in 86 I took my vette there and again in 93 I stopped by in my 55 Bird coing back from Los Banos for the Kustoms show there.

I have spoke of this place before. It too needs a saviour so perhaps Rusty Gem, this could be "your save". I have spoken with Jim about it before and Bob's corporate management as well . If it were up to me, I'd keep it a Mearle's,restore it to the 9's and promote the heck out of it. Stopped in and saw it again April 07 after the closure.
Don't let what happened to the Mooney Drive In Theatre happen to this-Heck the developer can't even get a loan to build on that site now .

If your town needs something like this, make it happen by becoming involved

It has been deemed a historical landmark! so they cant tear it down, just restore it, but in what century

[rustygem]

You know it's funny you brought this up Kevin, we have one of those pictures where the car lights and other lights light up it is a pic of Mearle's and I used to have an ice cream palour in Merced. I saw on the TV news when Mearles closed up and thought at the time it was tragic. Unfortunitly it's a little far south for me, but I did drive to Altamont for the last three years sooo it is possible, if I could find a money tree. Maybe this thread will get some of the south valley HAMBers up in arms over this one.
I moved to Merced in '81 and I have watched this town continue to knock down Americana landmarks so they can put up another Subway or Pizza place, the people here don't seem to care. I have been fighting them for over 25 years. I may be coming down sometime next to help Joe with some things so I'll check out the Broiler then.

[Cyclone Kevin]

Cool place 4 sure! I hope that something good comes out of it.
Will talk to you when you are down

[Weasel]

It would be fantastic if the "Save the Broiler" campaign and story of the revival became a flagship for a grassroots movement to preserve historic buildings. I was discussing this with friends last night at the inaugural Fatburger Cruise ( a soulless modern 'convenience' box of a restauarant), about how California is particularly bad about knocking down any building that has even the remotest possibility of being historic (and the more historic it is the keener they are to raze it) and then they whinge and are insecure about having no history. There are plenty of thousand year old buildings in Europe - go figure....

Cyclone Kevin has anyone suggested the idea of a book about the saving of the Broiler story? Proceeds to a historic Drive-In bulding preservation fund perhaps? The pioneer work has been done so it would be great to capitalize on it to enable more rescues of historic structures from the golden days of Americana.

[Cyclone Kevin]

Weasel,
I have discussed the possibility of a book with different "known authors" and I'd like no better for it to happen. Since you originate in Europe as a 1st gen transplant, Do you feel that this is a regional issue or would a publisher risk the investment of printing a book about a local Drive In restaurant?
I feel as you, there are many places to be saved.

[Cyclone Kevin]

Progress is moving along. Lots of things that make me do a double take are going on now. I swear that it must have felt like this when the place was built originally.
The A/C duct work in the original dining room will resemble what was there at time of demo. The second larger dining room is going to be the only all new thing in the place. I hope that you guys will enjoy all of the work that is going into making the Broiler look much as it once did. It is after all for you to experience and enjoy .

[Mazooma1]

SEPTEMBER 19th on the calendar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The day before my $@#^*)$ 59th!!! UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll be there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Cool story I have not been to a drive in in years since they closed the last one down here....

[meatball]

hope its a COKE not pepsi place...................