Clifton's Brookdale is one of last remaining 1930s-style cafeterias in California. Following the success of Clifford Clinton's success with the Pacific Seas restaurant, he bought the Boos Brothers Cafeteria in 1935 and converted it into the Brookdale. It was inspired by the Brookdale Lodge in Brookdale, CA which was not far from where Clinton grew up.
The interior still features the original babbling brooks, trees, waterfalls, fishing bears, bridges, wishing wells, murals, and mosaics of wilderness scenes. There is a chapel on the upper level, a rock fireplace and rocky flooring. The Music Rockledge is located above the fireplace where the organ was located. The organ has now been replaced with a moose. In front of the building, there is a terrazzo sidewalk from 1935 depicting L.A. landmarks.
Prices are still cheap and there is still the "Pay What You Wish – Free if not Delighted" policy that the Pacific Seas had. Cliftons' cafeterias were refuges for the down and out all through the Depression and war years when customers could pay whatever they could afford. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
