The Brown Derby. Security Pacific National Bank Photo Collection. Exterior view of the Brown Derby Restaurant on Wilshire Boulevard at Alexandria Avenue.
The restaurant scene in Los Angeles has been a dynamic and evolving tapestry, reflecting the city’s rapid growth and the diverse cultural influences that shaped its development. During its early days, Los Angeles transformed from a modest frontier town into a sprawling metropolis, and its culinary landscape evolved in parallel, influenced by waves of immigrants, the rise of Hollywood, and significant social changes.
Using the images from the Los Angeles Public Library’s historic photo collection, author and chef George Geary has curated an exhibition that celebrates the many iconic restaurants that have closed and those still open for Angelenos to enjoy.