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For a look at more classic coffee shops from Southern California, take a peek at Roadside Peek's Coffee Shop Classics.

(Below) Rod's Coffee shop was a local hangout for customers back in the day. This coffee shop, also once located in Montebello, has gone through several iterations in recent years, including a stint as an Armenian restaurant.

Rod's Coffee Shop (Closed) Montebello, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com	Rod's Coffee Shop close-up Montebello, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com	Olympic Restaurant, also now closed Montebello, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Crystals Coffee Shop (Demolished)
Montebello, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Here's the former Crystal's Coffee as it stood back in the day in Montebello, CA. Check out the classic coffee shop look of the restaurant and marquee. Unfortunately, Crystal's was torn down several years ago. 01-07

(Far left) A close-up of the marquee

(Near left) A shot of the Crystal's restaurant in Montebello as its used be located right off of the roadside

Ollie's Coffee Shop (Closed)
Near Yermo, CA
Photo courtesy Chris & Ginger

Here's a familiar sign to those that pass down the I-15 on the way between Vegas and L.A. This "EAT" sign stands guard over the Ollie's restaurant building that's been vacant for many years. 07-07

Parasol (now Mel's Diner) Closed
Seal Beach, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Parasol Restaurant in Seal Beach is a restaurant that looks like its name. In recent years, there were two Parasol's remaining in the area. However, Dinah's Parasol in Torrance demolished in the last couple of years. Check out more coffee shops at Roadside Peek's Coffee Shops.

Parasol rendering
Courtesy John Flores

The Parasol Restaurant located in Rossmoor near Seal Beach first opened in 1967 and was subsequently made famous in the 1973 classic movie American Graffiti. More recently, the familiar pink and white umbrella structure was an icon in the Seal Beach area. There were other Parasol Restaurants in the Los Angeles area, however all are now closed.

Mel's Drive-in has announced plans to reopen the Parasol building as a Mel's Drive-in. Mel's plans to restore many of the features that made the Parasol special, including the front marquee. This came after the community group Friends of the Parasol mounted a drive that captured 10,000 signatures from supporters to save the structure after initial word came that the building was to be demolished after the restaurant closed.

UPDATE 10/07 : Here are photos from the sign raising at Mel's Diner (The Parasol) in Seal Beach on 9/10/07. Mel's Diner will be open soon. More information can be found here. Many thanks to Ron Pierce for photos and update. 10-07

Mel's Diner Seal Beach, CA Photo courtesy Ron Pierce	Mel's Diner, the former Parasol Seal Beach, CA Photo courtesy Ron Pierce	Mel's Diner sign raising Seal Beach, CA Photo courtesy Ron Pierce

UPDATE 10/09 : Mel's Drive-in in Rossmoor, CA near Seal Beach closed its doors this past Tuesday. According to the restaurant owner, this Mel's location saw a large decline in customers since the beginning of the year as well as a problem getting rent reduced. This is the former site of the 1960's era Parasol Restaurant which had occupied the building for almost 40 years before it closed in 2006. Mel's had maintained much of the Parasol's mid-century look when it renovated the building. According to the Long Beach Press Telegram, the shopping center is now working with a national tenant to occupy the site. 10-09

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Page Last Updated October 24, 2009