The 1920s vintage diner designed by Charles Amend served customers of all types for decades until subway construction and redevelopment changed the neighborhood surrounding its Chandler Boulevard location and the workers who were it's primary customers disappeared.For a short time in the late 90s, now retired restraunteur Ned Forman (who created Ned's on Magnolia, now recast as EAT) joined with the Hallenbeck family who turned an old office
building on Cahuenga into a historic recreation of an 1800s general store to restore and re-open the diner. For the same reason the previous owners couldn't make it go, the Hallenbecks and Forman had to shut down the restaurant.Phil's was located where NoHo Commons parking garage sits now. It was boarded up, placed on blocks and now sits on undeveloped land owned by the JH Snyder company over on Weddington Street next to the Television Academy.
Talk has been that Phil's could be part of the next phase of NoHo Commons which will include a movie theatre, additional retail, housing and office space. In the meantime those of us around long enough to remember Phil's hope it comes back. It would be a great touch to incorporate this piece of history into everything new and wonderful in NoHo.
8 comments:
We referenced your blog entry in our blog about the diner here.
I am so pleased that Phil's dinner might be opening again. It brings back wonderful memories for me. In the 50's I was a teen actor and ate there many, many times. I took my dear friend Annette there for one of the best hambergers around. I was one of her co-stars on her series "ANNETTE" that aired on the Mickey Mouse Club, and she liked the feel of this wonderful old Dinner. Of course they were very pleased to have her there, as she was always signing autographs for the staff and anyone else who requested one. We went there several times. I also chowed down there with friends Ricky Nelson and Tim Considine. I remember when I saw Marlon Brando eating there,what memories.
Steve Stevens
Loved old Phil's Diner ... ate there twice in the 90's ... Sorry to see it go ... noticed it's parked aways away ... and when I last saw it (2003) the sign was still underneath it.
Yeaaah!! Glad they FINALLY wised up to saving some of NoHo's history!!
Go, Phil's Diner! - I'll be first in line!!
When Phil's returns, I hope that the last owners, the Hongs, will return with it. I greatly miss the steak sandwich with sprouts, the idiot's mishmish omlette and other dishes that I suppose could be called Asian fusion breakfast. Mr. Hong (I think his first name is Charlie, tho people called him and his wife "Phil & Wendy".), if you read this and are cooking anywhere, please let me know:-)
please visit our website for our grand re-opening www.philsdinernoho.com
Just rode by the Phil's Diner today and saw some folks workin on it. If memory serves, the guy's name is Ed Bowen and he says he and another guy are restoring it it'll reopen in "a few months." Where, I don't know. Didn't think to ask.
Here's a link to a picture i took
http://bit.ly/ciSlMM
It's Back!!!!!! Phil's Diner Fresh N Fast will have it's soft opening April 20th...
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