Back in 2018 I took a day to drive down Beach Boulevard from the 91 all the way to the beach, photographing various signs and buildings. During that excursion I stumbled across a vintage Arby’s. The massive ten gallon hat neon sign towered over the curved building, emulating a covered wagon. I stepped inside and my jaw it the floor, because of the floor, which was a beautiful mosaic done in a cattle theme. I have returned several times because it’s so gosh darn amazing! But sadly I was recently hit with the news that the owner has filed for demolition permits and rebuild with a new “McModern” style. So I knew I needed to go and spend some quality time with it before it’s gone for good.
You might think Arby’s is someone’s name, like how McDonald’s was started by the McDonald brothers, but that isn’t exactly where the name came from. In 1964 brothers Forrest and Leroy Raffel put together the sounds of the letters “R” and “B” – the initials for Raffel Brothers, to form Arby’s. The first location was in Boardman, Ohio, and soon they expanded and franchised.
With its western flair, the early eateries were a modern take on programmatic architecture, evoking a conestoga wagon. The cowboy theming continued with a cattle, rope, and brand mosaic tile floor, and the towering ten gallon hat sign featuring neon and bulbs. During the later part of the 1960s these began to pop up across the country.
The Retrologist shared an ad that dated this particular restaurant to 1969, making it just over 50 years old. At 50, this location is still looking good with a few minor things here and there. It’s easy to see that at the owner cared about the uniqueness of the location, giving it a fresh coat of paint, keeping the neon working, and even putting spikes on the sign to deter birds from landing on it. I just wonder what has changed. Many older fast food restaurants have updated the design of their restaurants to accommodate drive-thrus (you’ll notice this a lot with Taco Bell. If you spy an old Taco Bell that is no longer a Taco Bell you will likely find a newer one, with a drive-thru nearby) but during our time there we say many who didn’t seem to mind parking, going in to order to-go, and hopping back in their car. So I can’t imagine that is too big of a factor. And even if its the aging building is demolishing it and rebuilding it really cost saving? Was it that a sparkling new In n Out was built next door?
The sad fact is that these Arby’s are disappearing fast. Another great website, Roadside Architecture has done an amazing job logging vintage Arby’s buildings, and noting that many have shuttered in recent years. Some locations have saved their signs, but this one in Huntington Beach is one of the last remaining fully intact locations in the world!
With the demolition notice, myself and other Americana enthusiasts, such as Merch Motel, have been raising the alarm on social media, reaching out to Huntington Beach offices, including the one in charge of permits, and the mayor, in addition to Arby’s itself. If you’re a fan of Americana, then you are welcome to do the same! I know it may seem that a big fast food chain may not care about its history, but Taco Bell did, when it chose to save its first ever location from the wrecking ball. While that situation was different, and the building currently sits under wraps at Taco Bell HQ in Irvine awaiting a new future, it is still heartwarming to know they chose to save a part of their history.
While some may say “It’s just fast food! It doesn’t matter!” But the truth is, fast food is a uniquely American thing. Love it or hate it, it is part of the fabric of America and is worthy of preserving. I will go out of my way to go to this Arby’s if I’m in the mood for Arby’s. I don’t eat Jack in the Box or Carl’s Jr., but if there was a perfectly preserved original location of those, you can bet I would go to those locations! Much like how I will also frequent the world’s oldest operating McDonald’s in Downey! Today the Arby’s is gone, who knows what could go next? Standing up for the seemingly small buildings showcases caring for history, architecture, and the unique things that make up a community.
I know the world is on fire. I know there are much bigger issues we can be involved with, and trust me, I am. From Women’s March to save our right to choose to Doctors Without Borders helping with the Gaza crisis, my heart and pocketbook goes out to larger and greater causes. But we must also fight for the small things that bring us joy, and for me, this Arby’s is one of them, in addition to being a unique piece of American history.
Want to give your two cents? You can contact the Huntington Beach Permit Center via permitcenter@surfcity-hb.org and the Huntington Beach mayor at Gracey.VanDerMark@surfcity-hb.org. You can also contact Arby’s via their Help Center. I’m currently working with other Southern California locals on other routes, and I’m always open to learning of more.
Grab a roast beef sandwich (it’s delicious, as the sign says!) at the Huntington Beach Arby’s while you still can at 7942 Edinger Avenue.
