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. (Check out the circular window at top center of the Melody Ledge photo which looks identical to the window in the Brookdale Lodge photos).

While the outside is described as “gritty”, the inside is still in great shape. There are 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. Just in front of the building 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 like his 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. The "Food for Thot" pamphlets, in which Clifton’s philosophy was explained, are still available free.

For more about the Brookdale, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. There is one other Clifton's restaurant left: The Greenery in West Covina, CA. [Note: as of Summer 2004, I hear The Greenery is closed.]