George's Coffee Shop (Demolished)
Fresno, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Looking for a coffee shop while cruising through Fresno? George's Coffee Shop was the sort of place to catch just off the main drag. The building itself screamed Googie. Check out those support beams and the facade before even thinking about what to order.

This wasn't a coffee shop that needed to hide behind a big roadside sign. The architecture did plenty of the advertising, with bold angles and exposed supports giving passing drivers something to look at. A little space age scenery to go with a food stop.

For anyone making the rounds with a camera, George's called for more than a quick shot of the name. Get a look at how the beams fit into the front of the building, then step back to catch the whole place. Lunch could wait while those angles got their turn.

George's Coffee Shop (Demolished)
Fresno, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

That's part of the fun of finding these old coffee shops along the valley roads. A stop for something to eat turns up a building that looks ready for the Jetsons to drop in. George's had that kind of look, making it worth a detour even without a growling stomach.

UPDATE: George's Coffee Shop was torn down in the late 1990s and replaced by a rather ordinary-looking structure. The old signage went with it. No more space age beams to catch on the next drive through Fresno. 09-26

Mearle's Drive-in (Gone)
Visalia, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Not sure if Mearle's Drive-In really belongs in the coffee shop category, but what the heck. This classic Visalia eatery has the roadside looks to earn a stop either way. Check out the pink building, the awnings, and the old drive-in signage. Quite a combination to catch while cruising along Mooney Boulevard.

Across from the College of the Sequoias, the restaurant was a handy stop for students and hungry motorists. For anyone making the rounds with a camera, though, a look around outside could come first. A burger and shake would have to wait while the signs got their turn.

The building opened as Tad's Drive-In in 1940 and later became Nielson's. Mearle Heitzman purchased the place in 1961, giving it the Mearle's name and bright pink look that generations of Visalia customers would recognize.

Mearle's Drive-in
Visalia, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Carhop service brought burgers, fries, and milkshakes out to waiting cars. No need to leave the driver's seat for lunch, though getting a good photo of the place called for climbing out. Mearle's continued serving until 2006, when the old drive-in closed and its future became uncertain.

UPDATE: The Mearle's Drive-in Restaurant closed down on August 15, 2006 after 66 years of business. The owners of the restaurant were evicted due to non-payment of back rent. Another grand stallion of the road has left the stable. Many thanks to Chet Wilson for update. 08-06

UPDATE: Since August 2006, the historic Mearle's Drive-in eatery off the main thoroughfare in Visalia, CA has sat vacant. Mearle's was placed on the local register of historic structures in late 2006 after being threatened for demolition by the landlord. According to the Visaiia Times-Delta, the site is now being advertised for lease. 12-08

Nighttime at the Mearle's Drive-in
Visalia, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

UPDATE: While Mearle's will not re-open, the Save Mearle's team has gotten the City to protect it as a historic landmark. The drive-in is now going to be under ownership by The Habit Grill (a chain in California). They have proposed their sketches of what it will look like. While it will no longer be a classic drive-in that our community has so many fond memories of, the building will NOT be demolished, as planned. Many thanks to Kaci Hansen for update. 11-10

UPDATE: The building escaped demolition and was renovated for The Habit Burger Grill, opening in late 2011. The original Mearle's neon signs were saved and relocated to the Tulare County Museum. 09-26

Below are more photos of the Mearle's Drive-in from when times were better.