How One Family Parlayed Mexican Food Into a Los Angeles Landmark
A converted bungalow on Western Avenue housed the restaurant beginning in the 1930s. El Cholo
From The New York Times: LOS ANGELES — You could call it a business founded on the enchilada and saved by the margarita. You could easily call it a Los Angeles institution. But more than anything, after 100 years, El Cholo is a family affair.
At 89, Ron Salisbury presides — as he has since 1954 — over the venerable Mexican restaurant opened by his immigrant grandparents. Lineage is evident among the staff, too. The head chef at the flagship Western Avenue location, Gerardo Ochoa, started as a dishwasher 27 years ago. His brother Sergio, a 40-year veteran, runs the kitchen at the downtown location; their father, Ignacio, was an El Cholo line cook in the 1970s and ’80s before going home to Michoacán.
And in an industry known for turnover, 54 employees — more than one in 10, across the restaurant’s several locations — have been with the place for 20 years or more.
History Colorado is heading out on a road trip to research and preserve Green Book sites
The 715 Club, 715 E 26th Ave. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
From Denverite: History Colorado will soon set out on a preservation road trip across the state to explore and investigate Green Book sites thanks to a national grant. These places were businesses that would serve Black travelers when segregation was legal.
History Colorado’s State Historic Preservation Office was awarded an almost $75,000 grant by the National Park Service late last month, to jump start in depth studies into the sites and eventually nominate at least one of them for historic designation with both the National and State Registers of Historic Places.
The project began last year and the idea stemmed from the three-time Oscar award winning film, “The Green Book,” according to Patrick Eidman, the Chief Preservation Officer and Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer.
Beloved burger joint El Cap has sold to local owners who will preserve its legacy
THE EL CAP SIGN CAN BE SPOTTED LOOKING SOUTH DOWN FOURTH STREET NORTH FROM 38TH AVENUE NORTH IN ST. PETE IN MARCH 1974 TAMPA BAY TIMES ARCHIVE
From St. Pete Rising: It’s never easy to say goodbye. Especially when something has been around for generations. In the last few years, St. Pete has had to let go of some of its oldest institutions.
COVID-19 claimed two of the Sunshine City’s most precious gems — St. Pete’s oldest family-operated restaurant, Coney Island Grill, and Florida’s largest and oldest independent bookstore, Haslam’s Book Store.
Just in the past month, Munch’s Restaurant and Sundries was shuttered after 70 years in business and Wilson’s Sports Lounge was demolished after a 50-year run on 4th Street.
Additionally, Kissin’ Cuzzins is under contract to be sold. Its fate is unknown.
Last week, another St. Pete establishment, El Cap, was sold – or at least 50% of it. However, unlike the shuttered institutions of the past few years, El Cap will continue to live on for years to come at 3500 4th Street North.
New Daisy Theatre re-opening on Beale Street after closing in 2018
From Localmemphis.com: MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The New Daisy Theatre is about to see life again thanks to the work of Downtown Memphis Commission and John Shivers. If you’re not familiar with New Daisy, it opened in 1936. It started out as a movie theatre but it closed temporarily, and then it re-opened as a concert venue. Everyone from Prince, Al Green, Jerry Lee Lewis, Keith Richards, Justin Timberlake, and other musicians have performed here.
Parties, wrestling, boxing matches and other events have also been held at New Daisy.
“A couple of months ago, the Downtown Memphis Commission regained control of the New Daisy Theatre, so we’ve just been spending the past couple of months trying to get the building re-opened and operable again,” said John Shivers, the Director of Beale Street.
Historic neon sign on State Street gets makeover, drips and all
Dan Yoder works on hand-lettering the Badger Liquor Shop sign in December. BARRY ADAMS, STATE JOURNAL
From the Wisconsin State Journal: Paint was chipped and faded, there were spots of rust, and many of the neon tubes were dark.
But Madison’s Happiest Corner, absent its historic sign since mid-July, is on the verge of becoming a bit brighter.
A nearly six-month restoration project that cost thousands of dollars will culminate at 7 p.m. Friday at the corner of State and Gorham when the 17-foot-high, 5-foot-wide neon sign at Badger Liquor Shop is once again illuminated, this time with a public celebration.
Gallery: Landmark Auburn diner closing, served the community since 1951
Hunter Dinerant neon sign is dark after the Auburn landmark closed for good on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022. The diner was established in 1951. Kevin Rivoli, The Citizen
From The Citizen: Hunter Dinerant, the iconic landmark that straddles the Owasco River along Genesee Street with its classic neon sign, is closing after serving the Auburn community since 1951. Rachael and Bill Juhl, owners since 2011, closed the business Saturday.