In the 1930s, cafeteria dining was a completely modern innovation, representing the freshest fare available. On a decrepit block of Broadway in downtown Los Angeles lies the ghost of a palatial dining hall filled with towering redwoods and a gurgling stream. Known as Clifton’s Brookdale Cafeteria, this terraced wonderland recalls a different time, when cafeterias were classy and downtown living was tops.
The Brookdale resembled a theme park but there was more to this restaurant than a novelty interior. Regardless of income or skin color, the owner wanted everyone who ate at his restaurants to be completely satisfied, so the phrase “Dine free unless delighted” was printed on every check. Though many patrons ate for free, enough customers gave significantly more than they were asked to keep the business afloat.
Real-estate developer and entrepreneur Andrew Meieran who purchased the building in 2010 is rehabilitating the Brookdale restaurant and restoring many of its original details while also updating the business for a more modern L.A.
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