![]() ![]() ![]() A glance at the lunch menu sets the scene: “INT. Taking into account the restaurant’s Burbank location, various design elements are nods to the film industry. “The tiki was fun and approachable, but we wanted to create something. “We wanted to re-invest because we’ll be here another 60 yeas, at least,” Ryan Smith, SRC Regional Director, said. The new look is much more modern, from the sprawling dining room to the romantic patio and its sweeping views. They closed in July of 2017 and reopened 9 months and $9.5 million later. When the time came for Castaway to get a new look, SRC decided to move away from its tropical roots. And, despite shuttering in 2013, Proud Bird also enjoyed its own Phoenix story, re-opening in a renovated space in 2017.Ĭastaway Photo: Courtesy of Castaway The New Castaway A teenage dishwasher was arrested but later released, and both cases remain unsolved. This blaze claimed the life of one firefighter. Oddly enough, SRC’s LAX offering, Proud Bird, was also the victim of arson in 1984. They began rebuilding the restaurant in 1995. Despite a $10,000 reward from SRC, the culprit was never apprehended. Investigators noted the fire was suspicious from the start and ultimately ruled it an arson. In all, the blaze caused $1 million in damages, left over 200 unemployed, and disappointed several others who had booked weddings, prom parties, and other special events. It took rescuers 90 minutes to extinguish the flames and though there were no injuries, the restaurant was a total loss. Firefighters were alerted to the disaster after a heat-sensing burglar alarm was triggered. In June of 1993, the restaurant was devastated by a fire that occurred in the wee hours of a Tuesday morning. Photo: (Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection) A Mysterious Fire Destroys the Popular Mainstay ![]() Actor Douglas Mossman (Hawaii 5-0, Hawaiian Eye) aged as Master of Ceremonies. Castaway hosts the annual Beachcomber dinner. Times reporting that he could frequently be seen pulled up to the bar. You can check out scans of old menus, dating as far back as when a Scorpion cocktail cost $1.50, here. Looking back at Castaway’s early days reveals a host of special events, including fundraisers, costumed balls, weddings, and business meetings. It’s also been the site of the Saturn Awards-which recognizes sci-fi, horror, and fantasy media-several times, including in 2018.īob Hope was once among its many regulars, with the L.A. A second Castaway opened in San Bernardino in 1970, and remains there to this day. Tropical vibes filled the property, which consisted of a 500-seat dining room and event space that was popular for weddings and parties. Castaway would open just a few years later in 1962, offering American fare with Polynesian influences. Specialty Restaurants Corporation (SRC) was founded by WWII veteran David Tallichet, who opened SRC’s first restaurant in Long Beach in 1958. ![]()
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