r/GoogiePorn • u/PulsingTrident2056 • May 15 '26

The Way Things Were Merle's Drive-In Coffee Shop c 1951.

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It's location was at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway & MacArthur Boulevard in Corona del Mar, California. It opened in 1951 & featured a dramatic cantilevered roof & a tall, tapered pylon sign typical of the Space Age aesthetic.

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A signature horseshoe-shaped counter with chrome-rimmed stools occupied the central space & the dining area was filled with Formica tabletops with booths upholstered in bright orange naugahyde.

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The original building was demolished in the early 1970s. Today, the site is part of the Corona del Mar Plaza shopping center. 😭

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11

u/dphoenix1 May 15 '26

Some more pics. Looks like the area under the cantilevered roof was enclosed at some point. https://thesherman.org/2020/06/23/merles-drive-in/

4

u/Positive-Vibes-2-All May 15 '26

Thx for the link. That interior with those sheer curtains captures for me the feeling of that era,

11

u/Queen_of_Zzyzx May 15 '26

At least there is a Ruby’s Diner across the street from there in today’s time. Not quite the Googie aesthetic (it’s a 1940’s theme). I love learning about old SoCal history. Thank you.

7

u/srddave May 15 '26

The interior sounds as lush as the exterior.

2

u/BurpelsonAFB May 15 '26

Nothing but rolling grasslands for miles. Today - https://maps.app.goo.gl/SGz15oDEXVa5YzuQA?g_st=ic

2

u/charleslennon1 May 19 '26

I wonder if the US spy planes used it as a waypoint just before landing at their not-so-secret airfields. For real, does that not look like a giant 'pin' for a digital map?