Written By Ken Hulsey
During a trip back to California, Terri and I had the pleasure of dining at the oldest remaining Bob's Big Boy in Burbank. This restaurant is a perfectly preserved example of what the dining experience was like in the decades following World War II. Wrapped in neon lights, the Bob's in Burbank serves as both a restaurant and a museum.
I highly recommend seeking out this hidden gem if you are visiting Southern California. Having breakfast there took me back to my youth when restaurants like this were literally everywhere.
This Bob's restaurant was built in 1949 by local residents Scott MacDonald and Ward Albert, making it the oldest remaining Bob’s Big Boy in America. The Burbank location is a magnificent example of the emerging California coffee shop style that exploded in Los Angeles during the 1950s.
One of the most striking features of the building is the monumental freestanding Bob's sign, which soars vertically in contrast to the restaurant's horizontal lines. Positioned at a strategic angle, the sign, with its attractive pink and white neon lettering, is breathtakingly dramatic and visible from far down Riverside Drive. This sign is transitional in design, being free-standing while still retaining elements of 1930s streamlining. At 70 feet tall, the Bob's sign is a true landmark in the surrounding community. At night, the combination of the brightly lit sign and the wide band of windows showcasing the diners inside creates a powerful lure for passing motorists.
Famed British musical group The Beatles dined at the Burbank Bob's Big Boy location during their 1965 U.S. Summer Tour. Many regulars and tourists alike request "The Beatles Booth." Don’t be surprised if it’s not available; customers from around the world have waited hours to sit in this booth.
The current owner, the MacDonald family, acquired control of the restaurant in 1993 and has been restoring it to its past glory. Enhancements include the addition of an exterior patio, rehabilitation of the tower sign, remodeling of the dining room, reintroduction of "Car Hop" service on Saturday and Sunday nights, and a “Classic Car Show” held in the parking lot on Friday nights.
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