Restoring Googie Modern architecture is finally getting the attention it deserves. Once considered tacky and low brow, Googie architecture is now recognized as an important and influential part of Southern California’s Midcentury Modern explosion of innovative design. Alan Hess, author of Googie: Fifties Coffee Shop Architecture, reports on the recent detailed restoration of Stanley Burke’s (better known as Corky’s). The historic Googie-style coffee shop (located on Van Nuys Boulevard in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles) is a key 1958 example designed by architects Armet & Davis with interiors by Helen Liu Fong. The landmark building is famous for its swooping roofline, expansive glass walls, and bold neon sign. Following a detailed historic restoration that brought back original design elements like its zigzag booths and terrazzo floors, the building was recognized by the LA Conservancy with a 2026 Preservation Award. This success points the way to preserving even more examples of Googie and other under-appreciated examples of Midcentury design.
The Palm Springs Preservation Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is “to educate and promote public awareness of the importance of preserving the historical resources and architecture of the city of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley area. ”PSPF offers free membership as a public benefit. To learn more about the work of the foundation see www.pspreservationfoundation.org.