Johnie's Coffee Shop, Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments
Johnie's Coffee Shop is a commercial building in the Googie style located at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles. It features a distinctive butterfly-wing roof, extensive glass walls, and a bright red neon sign designed to catch the attention of passing drivers.
The building was constructed in 1956 by architects Louis Armet and Eldon Davis and exemplifies the Googie style that flourished in California from the 1940s through the early 1960s. Originally opened as Romeo's Times Square, it later became Ram's and took its current name in 1966, operating continuously until its closure in 2000.
The name "Johnie's" reflects the shop's changing identities over the decades, from Romeo's Times Square to Ram's before settling on its current name. The building expresses the postwar fascination with cars and space exploration, visible in its striking forward-looking design that made it a symbol of that era's optimism.
The building sits at a prominent street corner on Wilshire Boulevard and is easily visible from the road, especially when its lights are on at night. Parking is available at the site, and its location near a planned metro station extension will make the area more accessible in the future.
The building was designated a Historic-Cultural Monument in 2013, granting it official protection status. In 2016 it was temporarily renamed Bernie's Coffee Shop and served as a campaign headquarters, underscoring its continued relevance to the community.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
