Contributed by: Jeremy Ebersole
Organization: Society for Commercial Archeology
Dated Posted: July 14, 2026
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Inaugural award celebrates rebirth of iconic 1958 Googie coffee shop in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (July 14, 2026)—The Society for Commercial Archeology (SCA) recently presented its inaugural Roadside Heritage Award to The Restoration of the Historic Stanley Burke’s Restaurant & Sign. The presentation took place on Monday, July 13, at the former Stanley Burke’s coffee shop, now a Chick-fil-A, at 5043 Van Nuys Blvd. in Los Angeles, CA, as part of the organization’s four-day road trip event, “From Googie to Glamour: LA’s Roadside Stars.”

The nearly 800-member strong nonprofit SCA was founded in 1977 to bring national attention to the value of commercial roadside architecture and hosts a conference or road trip annually in a different location in North America. The award seeks to recognize, celebrate, and call attention to a recent local success story within the broad world of commercial roadside heritage.

An excellent example of Googie coffee shop architecture designed by architects Armet & Davis, with interiors by Helen Liu Fong, Stanley Burke’s was built in 1958 and went through multiple owners and multiple names (Corky’s, Lamplighter) until it closed in 2019. It was officially designated in 2020 as Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #1215. The property owner contracted with a new tenant, Chick-fil-A, which initiated a five-year project to restore the building to its original character after years of deferred maintenance and later additions. Remaining historic fabric was restored and lost fabric was replicated from original plans and archival photos.

A primary hurdle to be overcome was the restoration of the original interior, which had been entirely remodeled in 1981. As the restoration team removed added sheet rock on the walls, carpet and tile over the original terrazzo floors, and a dropped acoustic tile ceiling, the original authentic materials, design, and spaces were revealed. Fong’s original concept of space, natural light, zig-zag banquette seating, furnishings, and light sconces were all restored or replicated. The original catenary curving ceiling and clerestory windows, still existing above the dropped acoustic tile ceiling, was revealed. The full height glass curtain wall was also revealed and restored. The original freestanding neon sign, which had also been altered over the years, was restored to its original configuration and neon tubing.

The restoration spotlights the role, talent, and national influence of Helen Liu Fong of Armet & Davis, an Asian American woman in the architecture profession at a time when it was dominated by white men. Born in Los Angeles’ Chinatown and educated in planning at the University of California, Berkeley, Fong was responsible for the interior designs of most of the office’s key coffee shop designs, including the Norm’s, Denny’s, and Bob’s Big Boy chains nationally, and notable custom designs including Pann’s and Stanley Burke’s.

“We can’t think of a better project to honor with the first award given by the SCA in our 49-year history,” says SCA President Brian Gallaugher. “We applaud the foresight and care of everyone who helped bring this far-too-rare restoration to fruition and hope this recognition shows others the value restoration of mid-century historic character can bring to a modern business.”

Says architect and historian Alan Hess, who accepted the award on behalf of all those involved in the project, “Through a six-year process, Stanley Burke’s rehabilitation is a remarkable example of cooperation among all parties — the property owner, the tenant, the city, the neighborhood, and historic preservationists — to return this significant example of Modern architecture to the streets and public of Los Angeles.”

The award acknowledges the following individuals for their contributions to the project:

• Alan Hess, Preservation Architect
• Carrie Chasteen, Historic Preservation Consultant
• Armet, Davis & Newlove, Original Architects
• Russell Hatfield and Miguel Alcantar, CRHO Architects, Renovation Architects
• Miranda Lee, Project Lead for Tenant/Client Chick-fil-A
• Jean Heggerty, Homer Fuller Real Estate Trust, Property Owner
• Jason Irvine and Juan Ochoa, KDC Construction, Contractor
• Jim Lascola, Structural Engineer
• Russell Kehl, Structural Engineer
• Tina Choi, Government Relations Consultant
• Chris Parker, Entitlements Consultant

In May 2027, the SCA plans to award its second Roadside Heritage Award in San Antonio and Austin, Texas, as part of the organization’s 50^th anniversary conference.

Media contact: Jeremy Ebersole, utba@sca-roadside.org, 717-592-9541

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Founded in 1977, the Society for Commercial Archeology honors the commercial built environment and cultural landscapes of North America, especially the roadside, its artifacts and structures, signs and symbols, those lost, those surviving, and those still being developed. Through research, education, publications, events, and advocacy, the SCA connects and nurtures a large community of enthusiasts, promotes public awareness, and encourages preservation efforts. Learn more at sca-roadside.org.