HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 08a - Denny's Windmill Proclamation
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, Van de Kamp’s Holland Dutch Bakery, founded in 1915, was a Los
Angeles institution for much of the twentieth century. Its trademark Dutch windmill appeared
on its bakeries and coffee shops across the region. Today, only one windmill survives intact,
atop of what was once a Van de Kamp’s coffee shop, built in 1967, later on becoming a Denny’s
restaurant in the late 1990s; and
Whereas, in the early 1960’s, Van de Kamp’s sought expansion of their restaurant
locations. Pasadena architect Harold James Bissner, Jr. developed a unique “circular” food
service interior design to be housed in a hexadecagon – 16 sided – perimeter with a folded plate
roof topped by an illuminated windmill which spun like a clock as wel l as horizontally like a
top to maximize identity for folks passing by. The “circular” restaurant building permitted
uncongested travel while preparing, cooking, serving, and clearing tables by restaurant
employees. The first of these fifteen restaurant buildings was built in the City of Arcadia; and
Whereas, after 20-plus years of the windmill being inoperable, Denny’s invested
more than $100,000 to recondition the windmill blades, add new motors, and install LED
lighting on the blades and base to illuminate the landmark at night; and Denny’s and the City
of Arcadia celebrated the windmill rotating again on June 29, 2016; and
Whereas, a year and a half later, on December 29, 2017, the windmill fell and
damaged Denny’s restaurant roof. Denny’s provided funding to make repairs to the windmill
and building, and once again the iconic windmill was set in motion on November 30, 2018.
NOW THEREFORE, I, April A. Verlato, Mayor of the City of Arcadia, do hereby
proclaim June 29th as
Denny’s historic windmill DAY
in the City of Arcadia, and thank Denny’s for their continued support and outstanding efforts
in preserving this well-known Arcadia historical landmark.
Dated this
29th Day of june, 2019
_______________________________
APRIL A. vERLATO, Mayor