Simon’s Restaurants were a large chain of LA restaurants in the 30s and 40s. I found this photo on a blog post by Alison Martino in which she said this one was near the Orpheum Theater in downtown LA. I have a Simon’s menu that lists 26 different locations, and one of them is at 830 S. Broadway, which puts it right next door. The fact that this sign says “Restaurants” with an s indicates to me that this might have been their headquarters with a restaurant on the ground floor. My contact at the Petersen said that he’s almost positive that magnificent automobile parked out front is a 1933 Pierce-Arrow, so let’s call this photo “circa mid-1930s.”
Gregory H. says: “When my mom & dad were dating (1946-1948) my mom would swipe the coffee creamer off the table as a souvenir of their dates. Here’s one from Simon’s that she kept.”
Here’s a matchbook posted by John W on Facebook. I love the motto: “A Simon’s wherever you turn.”
830 S. Broadway is now home to Broadway Bar, and as we can see, it shares a wall with the Orpheum. This image is from February 2023.
I think Mr. K nailed it!
https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/AM10/Automobiles-of-Amelia-Island/lots/r148-1933-pierce-arrow-v12-convertible-coupe/279961
Yes! He usually does!
Wonder what the colors were in the Simon’s storefront!? A friend is visiting The Orpheum next week to see Randy Rainbow.
How deeply I wish that photo was in color!
I love that original storefront.I also wonder what the colors were. I’m guessing green and black — a very typical Art Deco color scheme.
Good guess Paula.
Simon’s neon appears to be white over red which would go with the matchbook. Interestingly, Stan’s seemed to have adopted that amoeba design and continued with the red & white colors as found on their china. Green menu covers might suggest the additional color used for some interior elements.
One of the best years for styling from Pierce Arrow. Must have been a Hollywood celeb driving that beauty around as it cost a few bucks back then.
The building today looks different and larger. Would like to see a larger old picture with more of the restaurant and car in it.
I looked up the Orpheum on the L.A. Theatres site and there’s a mid-thirties photo that shows 4 separate businesses are along the front of the building next to the Orpheum, one of them in between Simon’s and the Orpheum. The lettering on the Simon’s is different than the photo here and none of that Art Deco detail. I’m wondering if the above isn’t a doctored photo, if you will, that Simon’s used for publicity? Link below is to the photo only.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eGyHcz2YpQU/WoZBu5SYyYI/AAAAAAAAbgw/QF5nvM1vnuoI5fbT0PW6y_MnGEyNA_wowCEwYBhgL/s640/Orpheum-LAPL-00070018.jpg
How weird that in the 2022 photo that Broadway Bar building is right next to the Orpheum and on the corner, but in that photo you found, it’s so far from the corner that it’s not even in the image! I’m stumped by this one.
Not a corner…building removed leaving parking area (or entryway to one) in between buildings?
Al, I’ve gone back to Streetview and taken a second look, and you’re right. A whole building has been removed to make a parking lot. The actual corner doesn’t come until we get to the Tower Theatre on 8th Street.