Staff Reports
Bob’s Big Boy
Diamond Bar – At the Diamond Bar City Council meeting held on Feb. 18, residents asked the council to help them make Bob’s Big Boy off Golden Springs Drive a historical landmark, in order for the restaurant to stay in the area.
The fast-food chain’s lease is set to expire in a few years and the landlord is looking to raise the rent. “We’d appreciate anything you can do to help us,” said resident and shift manager of Bob’s Big Boy, Gloria Shepard, at the meeting.
DeStefano said he would be more than happy to look into steps for declaring the restaurant a landmark, but that it would be “rather tricky” since such designations usually go to businesses and locations with a specific architectural design, tied to a significant or historical event, or an association with a person of distinction. Based on those criteria, DeStefano said he did not consider the property would be a candidate.
“I do believe that this sounds more like it’s an issue between the property owner and the business operator,” said DeStefano.
Mayor Pro-Tem Steve Tye said, “We’re talking about two years in advance here. I don’t even know if we have a policy for historic locations, but it’s the right thing to do for the city of Diamond Bar to get out and support Bob’s. The right thing is to bring it to our residents’ attentions and to say ‘get out there and support this business, get out there and commit to going to Bob’s Big Boy,’ however often that is. This is something that we value and have come to appreciate in Diamond Bar. I don’t know what could be more iconic than Bob standing out on the corner of Golden Springs and Brea Canyon. If that is not architectural importance I don’t know what is.”
Starting last year, franchise owner, James Tsai, made an effort to preserve his beloved restaurant from extinction by obtaining over 1,800 petition signatures from loyal customers in June 2013.
Reinforcing his plea, he had a large sign inside the restaurant that read, “PLEASE JOIN US TO HELP KEEP THIS BOB’S BIG BOY FROM BEING CLOSED. WE NEED YOUR SIGNATURE SO WE CAN BECOME A HISTORIC LANDMARK”.
Built in 1981, Tsai took ownership of Bob’s in 1993. “The building is old, but well-kept,” said Tsai. With 24 employees, 14 of which have been with him for anywhere from 10 to 20 years, the Diamond Bar location is known for its customer loyalty. According to the restaurant’s manager, Lucy Bartlett, “We are concerned about the public and hear from hundreds of people that they love coming to Bob’s. They want us to stay in the community.” But it seems like the only way Bob’s Big Boy can stay in the community, is if it becomes a Historic Landmark.
According to the National Historic Landmarks Program, “National Historic Landmarks (NHL) are exceptional places. They form a common bond between all Americans.” Wikipedia further characterizes NHLs as “Sites where events of national historical significance occurred; places where prominent persons lived or worked; icons of ideals that shaped the nation; outstanding examples of design or construction; places characterizing a way of life; or archeological sites able to yield information.”
The process to have the U.S. Department of Interior declare Bob’s Big Boy in Diamond Bar an NHL is long and detailed.
But is it possible for Bob’s Big Boy in Diamond Bar to become a Historical Landmark? It’s happened before. The Bob’s in Burbank is the oldest in the United States. It was built in 1949 by Los Angeles architect Wayne McAllister in the 1940s streamline modern style, and became a California Point of Historical Interest in 1993. Not a Historical Landmark, but certainly noteworthy, Bob’s Big Boy in Norco – Horsetown USA - has “Cowboy Bob”, the only one of its kind, greeting customers in a cowboy hat. The possibility for Diamond Bar is definitely there.
James Tsai invites you to his restaurant to enjoy his food, speak with his employees and see for yourself if you’d like to help his cause. He says, “We have been at the same location in Diamond Bar for 30 years, and our customers are loyal from generation to generation. Thank you for your loyalty! We need your continued support to keep this Big Boy location alive.” Come to think of it, an Original Double-Deck Cheeseburger sounds pretty good! Check it out for yourselves.
Bob’s Big Boy is located at 21090 Golden Springs Drive in Diamond Bar and they can be reached at (909) 595-9170.
