 A nostalgic look at 1970s Southern California coffee shop culture Nostalgia in a Cup: Childhood Memories of Coffee Shops in the 1970s and Early 1980s Childhood memories are often painted with vivid snapshots of the places and people that shaped them. For me, many of those memories are steeped in the warm, familiar aroma of coffee shops. In the 1970s and early 1980s, these humble diners were not just eateries—they were a way of life for my family. Coffee Shops: A Cultural Mainstay Coffee shops in the 70s and early 80s were found everywhere, affordable, and welcoming. Their 24-hour service and simple menus made them the go-to spots for families, late-night crowds, and social gatherings. At their peak, coffee shops like Sambo's, Norms, and Bob’s Big Boy dotted the Southern California landscape. Each offered something unique, yet all were tied together by a shared atmosphere of casual comfort. These coffee shops weren’t just places to eat—they were community hubs. Families on a budget could enjoy an inexpensive meal, and friends could linger over endless cups of coffee while catching up. They reflected a slower time when people connected face-to-face without the distractions of smartphones or social media. My Dad: From Morning Paper to Coffee Shop Crew My dad was a quintessential coffee shop patron, a habit he’s kept to this day. Back then, he’d head to the nearest spot early in the morning for a cup of coffee, a hearty breakfast, and the morning paper. It was his quiet ritual. Later, when we went out together as a family, it was always to a coffee shop. Breakfast or lunch—it didn’t matter. Coffee shops were dependable. When he took me to ice skating lessons or practice, he’d always wait nearby in one, coffee cup in hand. Today, he’s still there—different coffee shops, same habit—now joined by a rotating cast of lifelong buddies. They meet up in the mornings, swapping stories over steaming mugs, keeping the tradition alive. My Mom: Late-Night Coffee and Ice Skating Friends My mom also gravitated toward coffee shops, especially for late-night meetups with her ice-skating friends. After long days at the rink, she’d sometimes bring us along for hot chocolate or dessert. A slice of pie or a steaming mug of cocoa after skating made those evenings feel special. By the early 80s, her tastes had shifted slightly--Bob’s Big Boy became her spot of choice. Whether it was the Arcadia location on Baldwin Avenue or another nearby branch, I remember the cheerful Big Boy mascot beckoning us inside. The Kid’s Perspective: Single-Serve Cereal and Peg Games As a child, I wasn’t exactly a fan of coffee shop breakfast food. Pancakes, waffles, French toast, and eggs? Not for me. Thankfully, coffee shops often came to the rescue with single-serve cereal containers. There was something delightful about opening a mini box of Frosted Flakes or Sugar Smacks and pouring cold milk over it. One particular coffee shop near our home on Duarte Road in Arcadia holds a special place in my heart. My dad would take us there when we were little and again after my parents’ divorce, during his visitation days. Each table had a wooden peg game, which my siblings and I would eagerly play while waiting for breakfast. Those moments, simple as they were, carried a sense of stability and joy. Coffee Shops in Historical ContextSome of the coffee shops we frequented are now long gone or rebranded. Sambo's, once a nationwide chain, was a familiar sight during my childhood. Locations like Santa Monica’s Ocean Boulevard, Pasadena’s Rosemead Boulevard, and Arcadia’s Huntington Drive are tied to memories of family outings. However, the chain faced controversy over its name and imagery and eventually rebranded or closed all of its locations, except for the Santa Barbara one that lasted until 2020. Norms, on the other hand, has endured. With its iconic Googie-style architecture and neon signage, Norms remains a Southern California staple. Its late-night hours and affordable menu have kept it popular for generations. Then there’s IHOP, or as it was formally known, the International House of Pancakes. It was a place where stacks of fluffy pancakes were the star of the show, even if I opted for cereal instead. And of course, Bob’s Big Boy—with its cheerful statue out front and retro diner feel—was a step up in coffee shop chic. It was where we'd go when we were just a little bit more dressed up or had a reason to celebrate. Why These Memories Matter Looking back, coffee shops were more than just places to eat—they were the backdrop to countless family moments. They were where my parents could stretch a dollar and still treat us to a meal out. They were where we went to unwind after skating, laugh over simple games, and connect as a family. Even now, when I pass a Norms or see a Bob’s Big Boy sign, I feel a pang of nostalgia. The world has changed so much, but coffee shops still carry the echoes of simpler times and shared routines. What about you? Do you have a favorite coffee shop memory? Maybe it’s the taste of a milkshake, a certain table where your family always sat, or the way a slice of pie always seemed like the perfect end to a meal. Share your story—I’d love to hear it. *Note: The blog image is an AI generated image and does not depict the true signage of the coffee shops. More Nostalgic Memories
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 My Ice-Skating Memoirs: A Nostalgic Journey Through Rinks, Memories, and Time Today, a photograph transported me back in time—a candid shot of my grandpa, brother, and me at one of my skating lessons. It was a sweet reminder of those formative years when the ice rink was not just a venue but a second home. My grandpa had come to watch me skate, and that moment sparked a wave of nostalgia that had me Googling the ice rinks of my youth and looking up old photos. Those rinks were more than just buildings; they were the backdrop to my childhood, a reflection of an ice-skating family’s dedication and love for the sport.  1. The picture that sparked the memory — a snapshot of skating days with my brother and Grandpa outside the West Covina Ice Arena, ca. 1981-1982 The Early Years: Skates and Figure Eights I started skating in the very early 1970s, officially beginning lessons at the age of 5. For nearly a decade, the rink was my playground, classroom, and stage. From the painstaking perfection of figure eights to the exhilaration of free skate sessions, the ice demanded discipline and grace. Practices often began at the crack of dawn. Sometimes, I found myself practicing figure eights not on ice but on a peculiar surface made of plastic patches designed to mimic it. It was rigorous, sometimes draining, and always a little surreal. Those mornings were not just about learning to skate but about developing a resilience that stays with me even today. Our family was deeply entrenched in the skating world. My mom had been an avid skater since childhood, performing in shows well into adulthood. My sister, the natural performer, was a showstopper in both competitions and ice shows. While she left the sport by 12, her brief career was marked with dazzling spins and theatrical flair.
The Rinks That Built My World The Los Angeles area of the 1970s and 1980s was home to an array of iconic ice rinks, but 4 were our rink-hop rinks, Pickwick Ice Rink, Culver City Ice Arena, West Covina Ice Arena, and the Santa Monica Ice Capades Chalet, depending on factors like my mom’s rehearsal schedule, the rinks’ operating hours, or which skating friends she planned to meet up with. Each one holds a special place in my memory, as well as a few others:
Each rink had its quirks and culture, from the cozy coffee shops where parents waited to the bustling energy of rehearsals and free skates. My dad, for instance, spent hours in the coffee shop adjoining West Covina Ice Arena, patiently waiting while I practiced during my later years. A Skating Family’s Life As an ice-skating family, we lived by the rink’s rhythms. My mom, always connected with the skating community, often practiced after hours, long after the rink had closed. The early days were spent with my brother and I roaming around the rinks ALL day. We knew everyone at the rinks, and everyone knew us, so we always had others looking out for us. That was the 70s for you. I sometimes slept in the car during these late-night sessions, though I vividly recall a scary moment when a stranger peered into the window. These were sacrifices we made as part of the sport’s demanding culture. I met fascinating people through the rink, including skating legends like Dorothy Hamill, at the Pickwick Rink, who once gifted me her Barbie doll modeled after her Olympic triumph in 1976; the actor Peter Falk, who played as Columbo, at the Santa Monica Rink and for some reason was dressed in his famous coat and giving us his Columbo routine; Peggy Flemming; and many more. Encounters like these brought the magic of skating alive. The Decision to Step Away By the time I reached 13, the grind of skating had begun to wear on me. The hours of practice left little room for fun, and I longed for time to spend with friends. When I told my mom I wanted to stop, her disappointment was unmistakable. Skating had been such a central part of her life and ours that stepping away felt monumental. But it was the right decision for me.
A Legacy on Ice My mom continued skating long after we had grown up, performing in shows at the Pasadena Ice Skating Center. Her dedication was a testament to the lifelong joy that skating brought her. Reflecting on those years, I see skating as more than a sport. It was a tapestry woven with memories of family, discipline, and the pure magic of gliding across the ice. The rinks, now lost to time or transformed, remain alive in my heart—a frozen piece of my history, preserved forever. Closing Thoughts Whether you grew up skating or simply watching from the stands, the rink has a way of bringing people together. It’s a place of camaraderie, creativity, and countless stories. For me, those stories are etched into the ice, a legacy of a childhood spent in motion and a family that lived to skate. Image Descriptions
©Diane Henriks #nostalgia,#nostalgicmemories,#1970s,#1980s,#iceskating,#Genealogy,#familyhistory
 Nostalgic Memories: Memorable 1970s TV Commercials Nostalgic Memories #3: Memorable 1970s TV Commercials Remember when commercials had catchy tunes that you just couldn’t get out of your head, memorable plots that reeled you in, or well-known stars that hooked you, along with being memorable no matter the age? This is the third in a series of nostalgic memories that include TV shows, commercials, toys, and more, as I remember them, while writing my memoirs as part of my family history. The second was Nostalgic Memories #2: Early 1970s Kid’s Animated TV Shows. I have been in the process of trying to write my memoirs, and in doing so, I have come up with tons of memories from every decade, which I thought would be fun to share. These brought back tons of nostalgic memories, and maybe they will bring back some for you as well. My Most Memorable Commercials of the 70s I remember tons of commercials from the 70s, but these are the most memorable ones that I still remember quite well to this day. They include links that will take you to some of the ones I watched during that time. See how many you remember!  Band-Aid 1970s TV Commercials
 Oscar Mayer Bologna 1970s TV Commercials  9-Lives (Morris the Cat) 1970s TV Commercials
 Charmin (Mr. Whipple, "Don't squeeze the Charmin") 1970s TV Commercials  Tootsie Roll Pop 1970s TV Commercial
 Life Cereal ("Hey Mikey!") 1970s TV Commercial  Fritos 1970s TV Commercial
 Hershey’s Syrup (Messy Marvin Debut) 1970s TV Commercials  Meow Mix 1970s TV Commercials  Nostalgic Memories: Early 1970s Kid’s Animated TV Shows Nostalgic Memories #2: Early 1970s Kid’s Animated TV Shows This is the second in a series of nostalgic memories that include TV shows, commercials, toys, and more, as I remember them, while writing my memoirs as part of my family history. The first was Nostalgic Memories #1: Early 1970s Kid’s TV Shows. I have been in the process of trying to write my memoirs, and in doing so, I have come up with tons of memories from every decade, which I thought would be fun to share. I spent a couple of years living with my grandma when I was between the ages of 3-5, and while jotting down my memories of my time with her, I also remembered some of the TV shows I watched during that time. This brought back tons of nostalgic memories, and maybe it will bring back some for you as well. My Early 1970s (Pre-Elementary School) Children's Cartoon Line UpBelieve it or not, with this long list, at this age, I wasn’t into cartoons as much as I was educational shows, but these are all the ones I remember watching before I started kindergarten. They include links that will take you to either episodes or opening songs of the ones I would have watched during that time, along with their air dates and some rerun dates.
And The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie (ABC)/The New Saturday Superstar Movie (1972-1973) (included pilots for new shows) *Many of these can be found on Amazon Prime, as well as YouTube. Remember any of these? I'd love to know!  Early 1970s Kid’s TV Shows Nostalgic Memories #1: Early 1970s Kid’s TV ShowsThis is the first in a series of nostalgic memories that include TV shows, commercials, toys, and more, as I remember them, while writing my memoir as part of my family history. I have been in the process of trying to write my memoir, and in doing so, I have come up with tons of memories from every decade, which I thought would be fun to share. I spent a couple of years living with my grandma when I was between the ages of 3-5, and while jotting down my memories of my time with her, I also remembered some of the TV shows I watched during that time. This brought back tons of nostalgic memories, and maybe it will bring back some for you as well. My Early 1970s Children’s TV Show Line Up (Pre-Elementary School)Below are the shows I watched (pre-elementary school) with links that will take you to either episodes or opening songs of the ones I would have watched during that time, along with their air dates and some rerun dates.
*Many of these can be found on Amazon Prime, as well as YouTube. Remember any of these? I'd love to know!
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Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family: Family History and Genealogy BlogI hope my family history and genealogy blog on genealogy research tips, resources, events, and more, along with my own genealogy journeys, will help you in your research and in building your family tree to learn more about your ancestors and family history to preserve for future generations to come! Categories
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