1930s Los Angeles was knee-deep in cafeterias. They were everywhere: Ontra, Schaber’s, Clifton’s, Stillwell, None Such, and don’t forget the Vegetarian Cafeteria next to Angels Flight. One of the most well-known was the Boos Bros Cafeteria. There were four brothers in all, and their restaurant, pictured here, was at 530 S. Hill St in downtown LA, opposite Pershing Square. I especially love the vaguely Tudoresque architecture contrasting with the very modern typeface they used for their logo in the windows. And from those banners hanging from the second floor, we can date this to the Los Angeles Olympic games in August 1932.

The Art Deco Society of Los Angeles said: “Boos Bros. went out of business in the middle of the Great Depression. It sold several of its cafeteria locations to Clifford Clinton, who turned them into Clifton cafeterias.”

Here’s an advertisement for Boos Bros. Cafeteria:

This is how 530 S. Hill St looked in February 2023. Turning a charming building into a parking lot is LA tale as old as time.