The Munch Box
Chatsworth, CA Photo and info courtesy Adriene Biondo
Here's The Munch Box, an old roadside stand that's been
a Chatsworth landmark for almost 50 years. The Munchbox hamburger stand
(circa 1956) has been added to the Cultural Heritage Commission's list
of historic-cultural monuments.
Tastee Freez (Closed)
Perris, CA Photo courtesy Ralph Squillace
Here's
an original Tastee Freez. Located in Perris, drop by Tastee for a burger,
taco, or shake. It's on Fourth Street and Perris Boulevard and practically
screams 70s right down to the A-frame building! Many thanks to Ralph Squillace for info.
A steep A-frame roof gave Tastee-Freez in Perris plenty of roadside character. This was a place where the building helped advertise the stop, even before customers spotted the ice cream lettering. On a warm Inland Empire afternoon, that could be a pretty effective invitation.
The Perris restaurant remained an unusually intact example of this Tastee-Freez design for decades, retaining both its distinctive building and an original sign. Burgers and soft serve came with a little architectural interest on the side.
Tastee Freez
Perris, CA Photo courtesy Ralph Squillace
Fortunately, a change of menu didn’t mean the end of the building. The former stand found another restaurant use, keeping a recognizable piece of the old roadside landscape in service.
UPDATE: The Perris Tastee-Freez became Taqueria King Burrito around 2024. The A-frame building survives, and the former Tastee-Freez sign was adapted for the new business. 10-26
Queens (Closed)
San Bernardino, CA Photo courtesy Tony Craig
Here's a good reminder of the era where a good lookin' sign was almost
as important as the food served within. Queens Fine Food features a rather unique sign featuring an interesting queen character
carrying a hot dish. Check out the colors on this sign,which scream 60's/70's.
Unfortunately, this restaurant may not be around forever, judging by the
fencing around it. 03-05
Check out the colorful character advertising Queens Fine Food in San Bernardino. Carrying a hot dish, the queen gave passing motorists a royal invitation to pull in for something to eat. Apparently even royalty had to help with the serving.
Queens (Closed)
San Bernardino, CA Photo courtesy David Carrasco
The bold colors and playful figure gave this restaurant a roadside identity all its own. Before rows of interchangeable restaurant signs became commonplace, characters like this helped hungry motorists remember where to turn. Forget the street number. Just look for the queen holding dinner.
Unfortunately, the restaurant’s fortunes didn’t remain quite so regal. By March 2005, fencing around the closed property suggested an uncertain future. The sign continued offering its cheerful invitation, although customers could no longer take the queen up on it. That plate was going to have a pretty long wait.
Queens (Closed)
San Bernardino, CA Photo courtesy David Carrasco
An unverified tale describes the gates rattling on windless nights, accompanied by the sound of clattering plates and a woman’s laughter. Fact or fiction? Perhaps someone was still clearing the tables after the last customer had gone. Whether the story deserves a place on the menu is another matter.
UPDATE: Queens Fine Food closed, but its distinctive sign was still being photographed in 2021. The queen outlasted the restaurant, keeping a little roadside personality around after the kitchen stopped serving. 10-26
The Grinder Haven (Closed)
Ontario, CA Photo courtesy Tony Craig
A big roadside arrow helped point hungry motorists toward Grinder Haven in Ontario. Along Holt Boulevard, this sandwich stop combined a straightforward menu with a neon sign that had plenty to say. Finding lunch probably wasn’t much of a challenge after dark.
Opened in 1958 as D’Elia’s Grinder Haven, the restaurant served the sandwiches known variously as grinders, subs, and heroes. Whatever customers called them, the old stand became a familiar part of the boulevard.
The sign later found another job when a taco shop took over. Its panels were repainted and the neon removed, carrying the old roadside shape into a different chapter.
An unverified tale in the supplied notes describes a meat slicer humming after hours, followed by the sound of wrapping paper. Fact or fiction? Apparently one last sandwich was still being prepared.
UPDATE: Grinder Haven has closed, and its former sign was adapted for a taco shop in 2019. The roadside landmark changed its message rather than disappearing altogether. 10-26
Taco Tio (Closed)
La Mirada, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Here's a Taco Tio Hamburgers with its trademark cactus sign. Yep,
just how many businesses can boast of both an easy off and on ramp. That sign is located right off the 5 freeway (just like the sign says)
in La Mirada, CA. It isn't a restaurant anymore. I don't think it's been
a restaurant since the 80's. It's now a used work truck lot. Many thanks to Stefanie Apel for above info.
Located beside Interstate 5, the restaurant eventually gave way to a used work-truck lot. The sign lingered after the food service ended, advertising a meal that customers could no longer order. Apparently the cactus hadn’t received the new menu.
An unverified tale supplied with the history describes reflections of old station wagons appearing near the former ordering area, then disappearing when someone turns to look. Really? Maybe the drivers were still searching for those hamburgers.
UPDATE: Taco Tio ceased restaurant operations years ago, and the property was subsequently used for truck sales. Its cactus marquee remained for a time as a reminder of the earlier freeway food stop. 10-26
Tastee Freez (Closed)
Tastee Freez
Queens (Closed)
Queens (Closed)
Queens (Closed)
Taco Tio (Closed)
