Los Angeles: Johnie's Coffee Shop One-Day-Only reopening

Johnie's is a coffee shop in LA that has been around since the 1950's. It is one of the last remaining examples of Googie architecture in the USA. It closed its doors in 2000 and is mainly used as a movie location; it's been featured in films such as American History X and Miracle Mile. In October, Johnie's re-opened for one day only, as part of a Los Angeles Conservancy Tour of the historic buildings of Wilshire Boulevard. Sadly, many famous Wilshire landmarks are extinct or facing extinction; the Brown Derby no longer exists, and the Ambassador Hotel (site of the Robert Kennedy assassination and home of the Cocoanut Grove night club) is scheduled for demolition.

Click on all images to see a larger image

Vintage coffee shop matchbooks

Original tiles

Original menu with 1950's prices.

A band played at the one-day-only opening.

Waitress in period costume.

Eldon Davis, one of the original architects of Johnie's.

A video played in the back room showing scenes from movies that featured Johnie's. This is from Miracle Mile.

Orange barstools

Vintage Sweda cash register

More? See "Previous Posts" in the right-hand menu bar.

All photos are ©2005 Kathryn Hill Photography.