Diners, Drive ins and Dives

Time Travel Trip to Lodi, CA – Most Original ‘Survivor Palaces’ of Any Town

»Posted by on Apr 10, 2019 in Diners, Drive ins and Dives, Lodi, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Time Travel Trip to Lodi, CA – Most Original ‘Survivor Palaces’ of Any Town

Time Travel Trip to Lodi, CA – Most Original ‘Survivor Palaces’ of Any Town
Quick capsule tour of our enlightening 6 hour visit to Lodi, CA and environs. In our visit we came to the realization that there’s still life out there, in the small towns like Lodi, where folks still appreciate their roots and and don’t tear down their old palaces. We came upon at least five diners and several vintage motels- more than we’ve come upon in a long time. Thank you Lodi. Enjoy, until next time when The Time Traveler pops up again who knows when or where…
Moai Tiki God greets folks at vintage Bali Hai Outrigger apartments in Stockton , CA
Moai Tiki God greets folks at vintage Bali Hai Outrigger apartments in Stockton , CA
Bali Hai and Outrigger tiki appartments  1962, Stockton, CA
Bali Hai – Outrigger Apartments, Stockton CA Beautiful tiki-themed living from the era – appears original and well-restored .
Built in 1962, the Bali Hai and Outrigger even include two Maoi statues . Visit now before they are town down…as we were on our way to Lodi , where remaining vintage palaces live on…

THERE’S STILL LIFE OUT THERE….It’s been 13 years since we launched The Time Traveler site and subsequent Bay Area Backroads. For our inaugural trip, in 2006, we went
beyond the Bay Area to explore still existing ’40s and ’50s TIKI culture and related Living Nostalgia in the Los Angeles area. The trip spawned TheTimeTraveler.com which became TheTimeTraveler.info and then BayAreaBackroads.org which is now
BayAreaBackroads.us Like much of our past, these sites went to sleep, as it were , for years but we’re back -hopefully permanently – along with some of our past as we attempt to keep our glorious Mid-Century Golden Years alive, discovering and re-discovering places and people and related music, movies and memories of the simpler ‘Happy Days’ era.

Time Life pop collection - Jack Benny, Roy Orbison, Neil Sedaka, etc
New collection from our favorite guy for humor AND music (if you will), plus lots more new collections from the likes of Roy Orbison, Neil Sedaka, Smokey and the Miracles, etc

While what were considered decaying cities have headed in perhaps a worse direction what with the gentrifying destruction of yesteryear’s Golden Palaces
such as Oakland.s Biffs (UFO-shaped) Coffee Shop, the Hofbrau and Dave’s Coffee Shop , just to name a few. Yet, while city life continues to decay, in a post-modern kind of way, many small towns in the hinterlands have risen up -often through
a new generation – like the proverbial Phoenix, maintaining their quality of life edifices from that earlier, simpler era of the 1930s-1960s . It seems folks in the so-called ‘fly over’ areas, well beyond the growing generic urban sprawl, seem to appreciate their roots and past more than those
of the once-spectacular big cities and we
will attempt to celebrate their efforts to restore and keep alive what were memorable formative years for many of us.

While what were considered decaying cities have headed in perhaps a worse direction what with the gentrifying destruction of yesteryear’s Golden Palaces
such as Oakland.s Biffs (UFO-shaped) Coffee Shop, the Hofbrau and Dave’s Coffee Shop , just to name a few. Yet, while city life continues to decay, in a post-modern kind of way, many small towns in the hinterlands have risen up -often through
a new generation – like the proverbial Phoenix, maintaining their quality of life edifices from that earlier, simpler era of the 1930s-1960s . It seems folks in the so-called ‘fly over’ areas, well beyond the growing generic urban sprawl, seem to appreciate their roots and past more than those
of the once-spectacular big cities and we
will attempt to celebrate their efforts to restore and keep alive what were memorable formative years for many of us.

From Roy Orbison to Neil Sedaka, Elvis to Pat Boone, rockabilly to romantic love songs – it’s all hear (as in HEAR) – THE GREATEST MUSIC IN FIFTY YEARS – from the ’60s and ’50s

Amazingly, we were able to find more remaining classics in one short Burtday Time Travel Trip, April 7, 2019 to the Stockton-Lodi ‘Inland Empire ‘ than in any previous venture. We are happy to be able to share these remarkable places and people who continue to operate these Golden Era beauties so that you may still frequent them and, in so doing, help
to keep them ALIVE and STILL ENJOY THAT BYGONE ERA that many thought had completely disappeared forever! Time Travel Lives!

We currently will be offering weekly updates that will include more such recent discoveries and updates in our ‘JACK BENNY ‘A’ LIST COUP-LETTER.’ You get not only these nostalgic updates but coupons,offers along with savings and success tips.

MANY OF THE BELOW ICONS WILL BE ON SALE AS POSTERS or T-SHIRTS SOON, IF NOT ALREADY.

Ice Cream Man, as in bygone era, sells his treats in front of equally timeless tiki-era apartments, now renamed ‘Pacific Palms’ in Stockton.
Classic 1950s El Rancho Motel
Classic 1950s El Rancho Motel may only garner 2.5 stars today form unappreciative tourists of another era, but not doubt a popular stayover in its heyday, right off 99 between Lodi and Stockton on Cherokee Ln
Motel features old style TV antenna
Motel features old style TV antenna and wash area in this spacious setting. Only in a small town that preserves its history could a place like this live on
Pollardville Palace Saloon and Chicken Restaurant. Sign remains as well as posters , now on sale https://www.zazzle.com/pollardville_palace_saloon_and_chicken_restaurant_poster-228128342189586204

The Pollardville Palace Saloon closed its doors a few years back following with the Chicken Restaurant . Originally opened in 1944 as the Chicken Kitchen Restaurant, the restaurant moved in 1957 to its current location along Highway 99 between Stockton and Lodi and started the Pollardville complex. The iconic sign is all that remains today. Pollardville Palace Saloon and Chicken Restaurant. Posters , now on sale
lodi town entrance
Retro entrance to town of Lodi
Mustang only car show at AW, Lodi
There’s a Car Show Going on , at AW of course, in Lodi 4-7-19 – Special Mustangs-only this day
59 Skyliner
Orphan car, ’59 Ford Skyliner hardtop convertible, not allowed with the Mustangs, here sitting lonely across street from AW car show 4-7-19
Hollywood Cafe
Hollywood Cafe, one of five diners in town
Hollywood Diner inside
Hollywood Cafe looking inside closed diner (only open for breakfast and lunch)
;Oldest and finest; of Lodi Cafes
Ultimate signage, dwarfs restaurant – looks pretty original and though website says nothing about it’s history, front door, below , states ‘Lodi’s Oldest and Finest’
'Oldest and finest' of Lodi Cafes
‘Oldest and finest’ of Lodi Cafes
Connie's Mexican Food Drive in/diner
Connie’s Mexican Food Drive in/diner
GOLDEN OX FAMILY DINER features trains
GOLDEN OX FAMILY DINER -Yet, another of at least five diners in Lodi, this one only goes back to 1991 but we include it for it’s unique train theme and actual ‘live’ trains that go around the restaurant and inside displays
Perhaps the 'King' or 'Queen' of all diners and vintage restaurants - and one of the oldest - is Richmaid Restaurant
Perhaps the ‘King’ or ‘Queen’ of all diners and vintage restaurants – and one of the oldest – is Richmaid Restaurant – since 1938.’Home of the Broasted Chicken’ this is a very popular spot and one of the few that stays open for dinner. Replete with fountain area inside and plenty of nostalgia and great signage, as seen above. Currently family that runs Fairmaid celebrated its 21st year the weekend of April 7 we were there. A definite must visit at 100 S Cherokee Ln

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