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Bono's Deli and Orange Juice Stand.
15395 E Foothill Blvd., Fontana, CA
Phone:
This Giant Orange Stand is located right next to Bono's Restaurant &
Deli. This isn't the original stand here though, the first fruit stand
was destroyed years ago when business dwindled. In the 1990s this one
was donated to the local historical society and when it later needed to
be relocated again Joe Bono agreed to have it moved to to this spot and
and had it restored. The Giant Orange (a wood framework covered with stucco)
was built by a Mr. Devries and originally located about 3 miles away.
Bono's opened in 1936 to serve Route 66 travelers and started as a produce
stand. From 1936 to 1943 this was a simple produce stand with swinging
trellis style doors in place of the large windows on the front and east
sides of the building. Those doors would be swung open during business
hours creating a covered open air market.
By 1943 traffic on Route 66 and business had increased so much that
the produce stand was remodeled and enlarged into full-service restaurant.
That's when the trellis style doors gave way to glass windows. Throughout
that and subsequent additions over the years the original white stucco
and light green tile style has been continued.
The increased traffic was due in part to people attempting to escape
life in the Dust Bowl states in the 1930s and the increasing number
of workers arriving to support wartime factory needs in the 1940s.
For many years the Bono family lived a house behind the restaurant.
Another small house was been attached to the restaurant and used as
a dining room and storage.
In
the fall of 2013 or shortly after the whole building was picked up and
moved several feet (20/30?) back from the street to accommodate widening
of the road.
The restaurant was placed on National Register of Historic Places in
2008.
Photo(s): 2013, 2019
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