Russell's (burger / comfort food mini chain) (Long Beach, Pasadena: high school, restaurant, store)

[BayAreaHillbilly]

This was the name of a mini chain I partook of during the 80s and early 90s. Does it still exist? The locations I frequented were Long Beach (on Atlantic IIRC) and Huntington (don''t recall exactly where it was right off hand).

If they are out of business anyone know why?

[Paula Lynn]

There was a Russell's on 2nd Street in Long Beach. They had the best burgers. They're no longer there, I don't know if they closed down or went out of business. This was about 15+ years ago.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

I have a theory. Part of it is gentrification which tends to attract a more artsy fartsy crowd who may not appreciate a "good old American" (perhaps even, dare I say, stereotypical "little Iowa" type) resto and instead want some sort of haut cuisine. Then there is the factor of the flood of immigration, whereby the demand for Asian all you can eat buffet, or, more traditional ethnic places, exceeds that of places like Russells. Then there is the health nazi factor, everyone being so obsessive about trans fats. We've experienced the same thing here in the Bay Area, where I've been for about 20 years after leaving the Southland. All the good old places of this type are going bye bye slowly but surely.

Sad to hear Russell's is kaput. I wanted to take my wife there some day. Oh well ...

[bhcompy]

The Lakewood Location(on the north side of Candlewood across from Lakewood Mall) went out of business 5+ years ago. It was good food, but I think competition from places like Hof's Hut as well as the mom and pop's and such was too much.

[TEXASJUNK]

I use to go to russells every month in the 1980's. I traveled from houston texas to long beach all the time. Russells was one of the highlights of my business trip. Russells reminded me of the old juicy hamburgers of the 1960's. I happen to have a business card from them. Here are the locations they use to have. All of them in long beach. Bixby knolls 4306 atlantic naples 5656 e second downtown 737 pine. The sad part about it is that they opened up their first store in 1930 ! More things that all of us will dearly miss. Kevin---*

[drunk on kool aid]

There is a Russell's in Old Town Pasadena:

Russell's Old Town Pasadena

Is this part of the same chain that everyone is talking about in the past tense? This particular restaurant hasn't been in Pasadena for a long time (maybe 10 or 15 years)?

[relser]

Originally Posted by TEXASJUNK

I use to go to russells every month in the 1980's. I traveled from houston texas to long beach all the time. Russells was one of the highlights of my business trip. Russells reminded me of the old juicy hamburgers of the 1960's. I happen to have a business card from them. Here are the locations they use to have. All of them in long beach. Bixby knolls 4306 atlantic naples 5656 e second downtown 737 pine. The sad part about it is that they opened up their first store in 1930 ! More things that all of us will dearly miss. Kevin---*

I worked as the fry cook at the original Russell's in Bixby Knolls the summer of 1970. Russell had just sold the business and was teaching the new owner, Don how to run the business. I started as a dishwasher for $1.80 an hour. One night the cook quit and I stepped in. The place only seated about 20 people when it was full and had a line down the block on most summer nights. Best Strawberry Pie I ever had. First peanut butter pie I ever had. Have never had a burger to match the "double butter burger". I moved out to Orange County before any others were opened and never went back. Did they take over the Hamburger Henry's that was on 2nd street in Belmont Shores?

[OLDFORDLOVER]

Originally Posted by relser

I worked as the fry cook at the original Russell's in Bixby Knolls the summer of 1970. Russell had just sold the business and was teaching the new owner, Don how to run the business. I started as a dishwasher for $1.80 an hour. One night the cook quit and I stepped in. The place only seated about 20 people when it was full and had a line down the block on most summer nights. Best Strawberry Pie I ever had. First peanut butter pie I ever had. Have never had a burger to match the "double butter burger". I moved out to Orange County before any others were opened and never went back. Did they take over the Hamburger Henry's that was on 2nd street in Belmont Shores?

I'm familiar with Hamburger Henry's in Belmont Shore (not shores). In the 50s it was originally known as The Tam-O-Shanter located on the south/east corner of Roycroft and Second St. I worked there as a teen-ager as a dish-washer. It was a drive-in and the car-hop would pass the dishes in thru a window to the outside. Chuck D.

[kyleanne11]

My dad started going to Russell's in the 1930's when the first one was across the street from Wilson High School. My family loved its burgers and pies. I was introduced to Russell's in the late '50's. I continued to eat at the various locations, but mostly the one on Atlantic for many years. My dad told me that the owner of Hof's Hut had been a cook at Russells, then started his own business. I didn't know that there was one remaining Russell's, and will certainly try to get up to Pasadena, as Russell's burgers were the best I've ever eaten

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Looks like the one in Pasadena is still open. May be the last one in the world.