Clifton’s Brookdale Cafeteria opened in 1935 as the second Clifton's restaurant – the first being Clifton’s Pacific Seas. The interior is reminiscent of California Redwood groves with real waterfalls and brooks, and fake moose, bears, owls and deer.
A tiny tree trunk chapel served as our Sunday service as we crammed in to listen to a strange playback of “The Parable of the Redwoods." Huddled up and giggling, we gave thanks and praise for things like nature and forest animals, mashed potatoes and good health, and of course, each other.
But the coolest thing about Clifton’s is that founder Clifford E. Clinton treated customers as "guests" and none were ever turned away hungry, even though they had no money. During one 90-day period at the depths of the Great Depression, 10,000 ate free before Clinton could open an emergency "Penny Cafeteria" a few blocks away to feed, for pennies, the two million "guests" who came during the next two years.
Clifton’s Brookdale remains today the largest public cafeteria in the world.
Photo: My impression of the Great Depression.
For more info on Clifton's Brookdale, please visit http://www.cliftonscafeteria.com/
