A brief history of Norm’s Diner

Norm Roybark was a car salesman who established not just a legendary Los Angeles diner but its charming and retro-future Googie architecture style. Norm’s is an L.A. mainstay - here’s the history.

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[Martell-XO]

That's the one I used to walk to for years. What a place. Simply great breakfast joint. And it always open. How can you beat that?

[EJofLA]

Dined there a few times, and passed the one on La Cieniega countless times. It's interesting to know it's long history thanks.

[slewone]

I'm still waiting for the one on Western to open.

[gbert]

My favorite norms on in San Gabriel which is gone 😢

[wooster]

My Norms was on Lincoln in Santa Monica, which closed in 2013. We used to go to The Broken Drum, too, which is also long gone. Raes on Pico is still there. My brother and I and my father and uncle lived together briefly in 1964 and lived a block from Raes. We ate three meals a day there, usually steak and eggs! Try getting that at McDonalds. Coffee shops rule.

[shwmehvn]

😀Thanks for the history! Speaking of googie design - do you remember the Googie's Coffee Shops (Hollywood, DTLA, Bev Hills)? The DTLA was beautifully designed.

[kiaramcneese]

Norms or Norma’s as I knew it was the legendary spot my deceased grandfather made that a tradition for us

[mrxman]

It's amazing how many chains have started in SoCal. Maybe you can do a video talking about all the business chains/franchises that originated in the greater LA region. Thanks

[drhb]

Interesting. I grew up in Orange County long ago, and don't remember Norm's at all. There's even one very near where I grew up on Beach Blvd. Looks like it's where the Me and Ed's pizza parlor was when I was there. Or maybe the RV place. Next to Top Hat Liquor which WAS there. Still blows my mind that that little hole in the wall store is still there.
I was able to google it, they opened two years after we moved out.

[chiefknowstomuch]

My favorite Norm"s near me is on Beverly and Rosemead, I live closer to the one in El Monte but I feel like the food is better over there.

[RevolverOcelot]

Haven't been out to Cali in nearly 22 years. Does Norms still have gumbo soup?

[frankmoreno]

Prices went up since owner ship changed

[tomallen]

You forgot one little known factoid. Norm is also the estranged paternal father of Devo's Gerald, "Jerry" Cassell 😂.

[tomallen]

I love it. this post is like the 99-Cent store where things are (were) not exactly 99 Cents all the time. However I sure hope this channel does not go by way of the 99-Cent Store. Besides, 2 mins & 50 secs is one minute if you consider time warp.😮😮👀

[fromtheinvisibledeskofmiked]

We love Norms but hash brown portions are half now!!

[ac-ukhs]

Funny the norms in Encino was built out . Open for a month and shut down. Not it's gonna be a churches chicken