Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Signs of the Times: Henry's Tacos, Long Live the Memory

I wish this was a "Chow Time" post but evidently, it was not meant to be.  

Initially I was resistant to the idea of blogging because I am the late adopter of all late adopters.  When technology is involved, I am usually the last person to make the scene.

I have to be dragged kicking and screaming toward anything more
 technologically-advanced than an Apple IIC and a Walkman.
Getting pretty banged up along the way, I guess you could call me a "haggard laggard."

Moore's Technology Adoption Lifecycle
(Source)

Fortunately, I made the leap, resulting in friends/virtual pen pals all over the world.  Even with this reliable network of cool folks who are always on the lookout for the weird, wild, and wonderful, it never ceases to amaze me when I am alerted to something wacky tacky in my own backyard by someone who lives clear across the country.  Such was the case when our pal Mod Betty at Retro Roadmap, informed us of Henry's Tacos, a googie taco stand in crisis in North Hollywood.  Sadly, after a battle with an evil tyrant of a landlord, this San Fernando Valley landmark closed this month after 51 years of business.

RIP Henry's Tacos - North Hollywood
(photo by iamnotanartist)

Now, technically, North Hollywood is slightly further afield than my own backyard, so Henry's was a place that I did not frequent and had not heard of until the brouhaha surrounding its application for landmark status.  Hearing that its doom was very much impending, we went by twice before its official closing date only to find it well...closed.  At that moment, I would have given anything to sink my teeth into that prime example of authentic Mexican cuisine, the Taco Burger with cheese. 

...so hungry for taco burgers....

Nevertheless, I had to be sated alone by the groovy architecture and brilliant signage.

Don't you love it?
It isn't much, but imagine those hot summer nights of '65 with everyone
 hanging out at the picnic tables and chowing down on taco burgers.
It sounds like a dream!

The "tacos" font is second only in greatness to the brilliant color scheme.

I want one of these.
I hoped they would go to the good home of a longtime employee or patron;
I have learned subsequently that they have already found a place
with San Fernando Valley Relics with the idea that they would
become part of a SFV heritage museum. 

Most cases of a hallowed landmark shuttering its doors after decades in business would result in a tear-stained missive by Mr. Tiny founded strongly on the principle of our need to support local, old-timey, family-owned, wacky tacky, mom 'n pop businesses.  In the case of Henry's Tacos, however, the closing was the result of a greedy landlord and a small business owner's desire for recognition as an historic landmark.  I guess the real lesson here is "Go to these places while they are still around because one never knows when they will fall victim to neglect, greed, old age, indifference, or worst of all, 'progress.'"  For fans of the taco burger (I can't let it go), the good news is that there are plans to establish a new Henry's location with the reins being passed to a veteran employee.  Viva Henry's!!!



Henry's Tacos (the building still stands but the signs are already gone)
11401 Moorpark St
North Hollywood, CA

Thanks Mod Betty for letting us know about Henry's, even if we were a little too late - laggards in all things, I guess!


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

21 comments:

  1. RIP, Henry's Taco's. I hate to hear stories like that about the senseless demise of some neighborhood institution (one with taco burgers, no less!). That part of the sign with the name and the cactus? PRICELESS. I'm glad it's going to a place where it will be appreciated and seen.

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    1. I also forgot to say that I need to print that chart from the top of this post out and use it as a visual reference when people ask me why I don't have an iPad or an android phone. I'm not even making a statement-- it's just my nature! Haggard laggards unite!

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    2. Absolutely, if I couldn't have the sign for myself, I'm glad it can be enjoyed by many! I remember sitting in a communications class in college and the professor was discussing this graph; all I could hear was the clickety-clack of keyboards as I used a pencil to take notes in my spiral bound notebook. I knew where I stood.

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  2. How crummy, another one bites the dust... i'd stolen ALL the signs!

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    1. We are hatching a plot to get our hands on some cool signs around town; it's all honest and above board, though...kind of.

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  3. how sad. what a great building though! what IS a taco burger? Is the meat ground on it? with salsa? hmmm.

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    1. I have no idea and I'm afraid I won't ever find out. My feeling is that it is a burger in a taco rather than a taco-flavored burger. I need to do some research on this one and come up with a vegan/gluten-recipe!

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  4. TACO BURGER???? My interest is piqued! Too bad this place is shut, as now I may never find out....

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    1. Doesn't it sound pretty great?!!! What else will we Yanks come up with in our never ending quest to bastardize ethnic cuisine and clog our arteries? Nevertheless, I want one really bad!!!

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  5. I have to hand it to Retro Roadhusband Cliff Hillis, who was in Los Angeles without me (harrumph!) last fall when he snapped a photo of Henry's to post on the Retro Roadmap Facebook page. Little did either of us know that Henry's was not long for this world at that time!

    I'm so glad you got to take some photos of the place before they took them all off - though in looking for the photo that I saw of the denuded little building, I did find some good news - it appears that all of the signage has been saved. http://studiocity.patch.com/articles/henry-s-sign-comes-down-and-gets-preserved-see-exclusive-photos#photo-12994015

    Glad we could get the word to you Mr. Tiny - if only we didn't have to share news like this at all! I'm an eternal optimist!)

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    1. Thanks, of course, to RRH too!!! I'm so glad that we got to see the whole thing before it went away! THANKS!!!

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  6. omigod! I want a taco burger so bad.

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    1. I know! It sounds equal parts terrifying and delicious; I'm jonesing for one right now!

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  7. so sad, one can only hope that the new one will carry on the ultimate tackyness of the past...
    I hope the signs found a new happy home!
    A taco burger is so obvious I love it! I dont eat meat but I bet you I can make one up without that will be just as super yummy.
    By the way, I swapped out my old trusty samsung for a galaxy 3..complicated and I still only use it to call and the odd text...

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    1. I'm working on a gluten-free, veggie recipe. LONG LIVE THE TACO BURGER!!!

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  8. Aww what a shame. That place is too cute, and you have now giving me an insatiable hunger for a taco burger!

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    1. It's contagious! The very words "taco burger" incite hunger!

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  9. Don't know about Henry's specifically, but a Taco Burger is approximately a "Made-Rite Burger" but of course the seasoning of the meat (crumbly ground beef) is different.
    Folks who grew up in Made-Rite country bemoan the fact that you can't seem to get one in southern California unless you settle for one with Taco seasoning.
    There was a TV documentary about the fabled Made-Rite purveyor in Marshalltown, Iowa.
    Taco Joe's in Norwalk CA offers a Taco Burger.

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  10. Aww shoot! I want a taco burger too. I imagine it having crunched-up taco shells on it.

    : ( Very sad. It looked like a very cool place.

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    1. I always pictured a traditional hamburger inside a taco shell. Let's be honest though, I'll take it anyway that it comes!!!

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  11. cool picture of the signage in it's new home (and a Nudiemobile!) can't wait for the grand opening of the San Fernando Relics museum!

    http://www.dailynews.com/lifestyle/20130924/valley-relics-museum-to-open-in-chatsworth-next-month

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