{"product_id":"cliftons-los-angeles-1940s","title":"Clifton's, Los Angeles 1940s","description":"\u003cp\u003eClifford Clinton arrived in Los Angeles in 1931 and combined his first and last names to open a chain of cafeterias. This was at the height of the Depression and when he leased a ‘distressed’ cafeteria at 618 South Olive Street, he erected a Pay What You Wish sign.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeople  were told to pay whatever they thought was fair for food like turkey, meatloaf and potatoes. His modest aim was to make a half cent profit per customer. He also made a point of never turning away anyone who was hungry, even if they had no money. The cafeteria served people of all races and was included in The Green Book, for African American motorists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1935 this remarkable restaurateur opened another Clifton’s, called Clifton’s Brookdale, at 648 South Broadway. At the peak of this establishment’s popularity in the 1940s, 10,000 people a day filed through the doors to enjoy cheap comfort food in an eccentric, woodlands-themed building. There were singing waiters and organ music and girls with large flashbulb cameras roamed both properties to take souvenir pictures of WWII servicemen and women with their loved ones. No check was too small, and a healthy lunch or dinner called a Vita Meal was only 5c and again, offered ’free to those without funds.’\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1939 the South Olive property was converted to a Pacific Seas theme with waterfalls, volcanic rocks and tropical foliage and many people believe it was a precursor to tiki bars. It closed in 1960. Clifton’s on Broadway with its faux redwood trees, stuffed animals, a waterfall that meandered through the dining room encompassed three floors, included a ballroom and a banquet room, and continued to do well for decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1946, Clinton passed the business to his children and he and his wife Nelda founded the charity Meals for Millions, to help feed hungry people all over the world. The restaurateur died at the age 83 in 1969.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe landmark venue, known as Clifton’s Brookdale, was sold in 2010 to nightclub operator Andrew Meieran who spent millions of dollars to try to preserve much of the unique charm and old-world style of the original.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe property was renamed Clifton’s Republic and offered guests various experiences in the Tree Top dining and cocktail bar, the Gothic Bar, the Brookdale Ballroom, the Monarch Forest Lodge and an events room called Pacific Seas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDespite his efforts the new Clifton's closed. Happily,  a different hospitality group is planning a new chapter for this legendary cafeteria.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGallery quality Giclée print on natural white, matte, 100% cotton rag, acid and lignin free archival paper using Epson archival inks. Custom printed with border for matting and framing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb style=\"line-height: 1.2;\"\u003eEach order includes a print of the interior menu.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb style=\"line-height: 1.2;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAll printed in USA.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Vintage Menu Art","offers":[{"title":"8.5x11\" Archival Print (Unframed) $25.00","offer_id":57491766378662,"sku":"dcx1790052339499","price":19.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"11x14 Archival Print (Unframed) $30.00","offer_id":57491766411430,"sku":"hjo1790052339500","price":21.3,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"13x19 Archival Print (Unframed) $40.00","offer_id":57491766444198,"sku":"ome1790052339501","price":24.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"16x20 Archival Print (Unframed) $55.00","offer_id":57491766476966,"sku":"mei1790052339502","price":34.65,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20x24 Archival Print (Unframed) $85.00","offer_id":57491766509734,"sku":"ttg1790052339503","price":62.05,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x36 Archival Print (Unframed) $135.00","offer_id":57491766542502,"sku":"aex1790052339504","price":86.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/9133\/8662\/files\/cliftons-los-angeles-1940s_1.webp?v=1790052344","url":"https:\/\/coffeetamper.shop\/products\/cliftons-los-angeles-1940s","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}