Well, my apologies for there being a lag in any trip of the weeks for the last 3 weeks! But due to inclement weather, my mom having total knee replacement surgery, work undergoing computer changes, other personal commitments and my own “bout” with the flu I have literally not had time to go out and explore our great world which has been driving me crazy. Nothing gives me more pleasure than to get out of the house and explore, learn, and grow from my trips and travels!

Now remember, while this website covers a wide range of travel destinations, it is Rhoades Less Traveled and showcases the sometimes less traveled and visited destinations. Thus, this weeks Trip of the Week takes us to Downey, California. Locals reading this are probably wondering what would take someone to Downey? And for those afar, they probably have never even heard of the city!

The City of Downey was named after Civil War governor John Gately Downey, although the city traces its roots to the days of Spanish rule when priests were building missions in California.

The piece of property that eventually would become the City of Downey, Rancho Santa Gertrudes,was sold to John Gately Downey and James McFarland in the 1850s.

Downey’s growth began, after World War II. At the end of the war, the city had about 32,000 residents. It incorporated in 1956 with a population of more than 89,000.

Perhaps the most famous residents of Downey were the Carpenters including Richard and Karen Carpenter who moved in 1963 from Connecticut to this Los Angeles Suburb and attended Downey High School. The Downey Library now contains the Carpenter Collection.

But my primary reason for visiting this Los Angeles Suburb has to do with food! Downey is home to the first and original Taco Bell Stand, Johnnie’s Broiler, and The Oldest Operating McDonalds.

The original Taco Bell stand was at 7112 Firestone Blvd. The building still stands but is now Seafood and Taco’s Raul. Taco Bell was founded at this spot by Glen Bell in 1962 as an alternate fast food to burgers and buns!

Just a few blocks down the street at 7447 Firestone Blvd stands the demolition ruins of Johnnie’s Broiler (featured in the Tina Turner Movie and numerous other commercial and movies). Johnnie’s Broiler was built in 1958 in the Googie style architecture and takes us back to a time like American Graffiti or Happy Day’s. A true architectural icon of American 1950’s culture. Johnnie’s Broiler (originally Harvey's Broiler) was a drive in restaurant and coffee shop. The drive in restaurant has been in movies and sitcoms as well as TV commercials and music videos. Johnie's was well known to Southern California locals, many of which drove miles to cruise through its massive lot. The restaurant was closed in 2001, and a used car dealership had since leased the property. Recently, the owners of Johnies started to illegally tear it down. Currently, the destruction of the building has been halted, with extreme damage to the building, though the sign is intact. Currently there is litigation to save what is left of the building and the original sign.

Continuing up Firestone Blvd and making a left on Paramount I came across the Rives Mansion one of the oldest surviging buildings in Downey. This was home to James C. Rives. James C. Rives (1898-1902) was born in Atlanta, Georgia and came to Los Angeles as a young child with his family in the late 1860s via oxcart. He dropped out of school at age 14 to help support his family following the death of his father, a pioneer doctor in Los Angeles. Rives never went to college and started a printing business at age 16. At 21 he owned and published the Downey Weekly Review newspaper, which he ran while studying law. He joined the bar at age 23, became a successful lawyer and served two terms as district attorney, from 1898 to 1902, before becoming a superior court judge for nearly two decades. Rives was a pioneer of Downey, where his mansion stands today, registered as an historical site.

My final stop and primary destination that precipitated this whole research and trip was at the corner of Florence and Lakewood Blvd…the oldest operating McDonald’s. Now whether you love or hate fast food, or you feel that McDonald’s emulates American Capitalism at its best (or worst), there is no denying that McDonald’s is truly and American icon and can be found just about everywhere in the world!

This particular McDonalds was the fourth one ever built, the oldest operating one still surviving, and was the only one never officially incorporated into the McDonald’s franchise chain!

This site is the oldest in the worldwide chain of 20,000 restaurants and the last one with red-and-white striped tile exterior. After opening in 1953, it immediately became the standard for the fast food franchises across the country. The building and its 60 foot high neon sign with "Speedee the Chef" are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

With low sales, damage from the 1994 Northridge Earthquake and the lack of a drive-up window and indoor seating, the restaurant was closed. However with both the public and preservationists demanding the restaurant be saved, McDonald's spent two years restoring the restaurant and reopened it. McDonald's reopened the facility as it was with walkup windows and outdoor seating. The revitalization also brought forth an addition housing a museum, and gift shop along with more outdoor seating.

Employees wear 50's style uniforms of paper hats, white shirts and bolo ties. The restaurant serves the original menu of hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries and old-fashioned milkshakes. Also available are more recent McDonald's items such as Big Macs and Happy Meals.

It was a bit nostalgic for me as I remember when McDonald’s looked like that! In addition, the small museum contained items and free give aways from decades ago many of which we had when I was a child.

So this weeks trip to Downey, California takes us on a gastronomy tour of fast food and at nostalgic tour of suburban Los Angeles circa 1960, an era being lost to rebuilding and revitalization, and yet in some cases being preserved for history.