Hof's Hut is a home-style eatery and 1950s coffee shop-style regional restaurant chain in the Los Angeles Area that specializes in comfort foods and baked goods such as pies. It is considered a cultural landmark and was founded by Harold Hofman in 1951. The company is headquartered in Signal Hill, and operates locations in Long Beach, Seal Beach, and Torrance.[1]
History
Hofman started out with a burger stand on the beach in the 1940s at 5th Place in Long Beach serving "Hofburgers" for 15 cents.[2] The first Hof's Hut opened on September 16, 1951, in Belmont Shore by Harold Hofman, the same day his son and current owner Craig Hofman was born.[3][4] In 1975 the chain opened its 9th restaurant,[5] and in 1993 the chain introduced vegetarian burgers.[6]
In 1993, Hof's Hut opposed a statewide smoking ban applied to cocktail sections which serve food. The ban was ultimately passed.[7]
On January 18, 2015, two fires destroyed the Bixby Knolls location reducing the number of open locations from four to three.[8]
George Kosanovich tended bar at the Hof's Hut in Bixby Knolls for 40 years and while there witnessed president John F. Kennedy getting gunned down in Dallas in 1963 on the television and watched the "fuzzy images" of the first lunar landing.[9]
Lucille's Smokehouse
Facing competitive pressures, Hofman started the Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ chain that has taken over some Hof's Hut locations. Competition from Starbucks, newer casual eatery chains with more exciting atmospheres, and breakfast nooks pressured Hof's Hut at the start of the 21st century. After various experiments modifying the format at some locations, owner Craig Hofman hit on the Lucille's Smokehouse concept and has been establishing that chain while reducing the number of Hof's Hut locations from a peak of 18.[10] Lucille's Smokehouse replaced the original Hof's Hutt Belmont Shore location in 2003.[11][12] This location has since been replaced by a specialty concept called Saint and Second owned by the Hofman family.[13]
External links
References
- Hof's Hut Locations hofshut.com, 16 May 2013, retrieved April 27, 2024^
- About Hof's Hut hofshut.com, 15 May 2013, retrieved April 27, 2024^
- HOF'S HUT CELEBRATES 50 YEARS IN L.B. Press-Telegram (Long Beach, CA), September 25, 2001^
- Michael David Smith. Hof's Hut Hits 50 Years Old, Celebrates All Month Long Grunion Gazette, The (Long Beach, CA), September 6, 2001^
- Chain Opens 9th Hof's Hut Los Angeles Times, November 16, 1975^
- VEGETARIAN BURGERS FIND NEW MARKET Press-Telegram (Long Beach, CA), August 19, 1993^
- Rick Holguin. Stronger Law Against Smoking Nears Final Approval Health Los Angeles Times, July 22, 1993^
- Hofs Hut In Bixby Knolls Considered Total Loss After Two Overnight Fires Long Beach Post (Long Beach, CA), January 19, 2015^
- HOF'S HUT TO HAIL A SMILE Press-Telegram (Long Beach, CA), March 27, 2000^
- Tiffany Montgomery. From hut to roadhouse: Hof's Hut owner turns his attention to growing his latest venture, Lucille's. The Orange County Register, May 18, 2005^
- Al Rudi Date. Smoke by the water Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, CA), March 6, 2003^
- JABBERWOCKY ABOUT THE HUT Long Beach Press-Telegram (CA), May 30, 2002^
- Home saintandsecond.com^