Why Glendale is One of the Awesomest Cities!!!

I owe this post and its colorful title to Friend of Food, Varoujan.

Varoujan is a food fan of Glendale, CA, and he has good resaon to be. Glendale is a large city neighboring Los Angeles. It happens to be the birthplace of many of our nation's favorite restaurants and host to some of the nation's best food companies.

Last week the LA times ran the obituary for Irvine Robbins founder of the Ice Cream behemoth Baskin-Robbins. Where did Mr. Robbins have his very fist Ice Cream shop? Glendale California, of course. The Baskin-Robbins, "31 Flavors" chain of ice cream parlors started in Adams Square in 1945. According to Wikipedia, store #1 is at this address 1130 South Adams, which I've added to our Family of Food Map.

Bob's Big Boy was started in 1936 by Bob Wien Glendale as Bob's Pantry, Home of the Big Boy Burger. The Bob's Big Boy chain of hamburger restaurants started on East Colorado. According to the historical photograph to the right (found on the Big Boy website, thank you Big Boy) it looks like the original was at 900 East Colorado. I have added that location to our Family of Food Map.


These historically interesting franchises are great, but is Glendale still relevant in the franchise industry? Sure it is, Glendale is also the birthplace of the wildly popular Panda Express . Its first restaurant at the Glendale Galleria opened in 1983 and they are still serving up batches of Orange Chicken in the upstairs Food Court (there is another Panda Express in the downstairs food court and one across the street in the food court near the theaters). If you have never been to the Galleria... I've added it to the Family of Food Map.

In addition Glendale is home to the national headquarters of the Nestlé Corporation. Nestlé makes chocolate, of course, but it also makes Lean Cuisine, Stouffers, Juicy Juice, Libby's Pumpkin, and even Purina Dog Food. Nestlé USA is at 800 North Brand Boulevard, Glendale, CA 91203 and I have added that to the Map.

The National Headquarters of The International House of Pancakes or IHOP is also in Glendale. The very first International House of Pancakes started in nearby Toluca Lake in 1958. The company headquarters is at 450 N. Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203, but if you're looking for a Rooty Tooty Fresh 'n Fruity, you'll have to go to the nearest franchise at 605 N. Glendale Avenue, Glendale, CA 91206-2408 (check the Map.)

In the words of Varoujan, "Ah Glendale, what food concoction will you bring us next?"