By Ofelia Saenz, Staff Writer
Mike Johnson, owner of Arnold’s Cafeteria and Bakery, is not quite ready to retire, but he sure wouldn’t mind a vacation every now and then.
Arnold’s has been feeding the Bixby Knolls neighborhood with its cafeteria-style midwestern comfort food since 1951. Although the restaurant has changed hands a few times in its existence–from the original owner, Miles Arnold, to his brother-in-law Ray Johnson, and finally to its current owner, Johnson’s son Mike–the popular family dining establishment has been owned by the same family all along.
With 18 years left on the lease of the building, Johnson said he has no intention of either selling or closing the Bixby Knolls landmark. He has, however, decided to bring another family member, cousin Jim Arnold who is Miles’ son, on board to share in the managerial duties.
Between the two of them and their two fathers, the Johnsons and Arnolds have owned more than a few successful restaurants in Southern California, including the hugely popular Arnold’s Farmhouse in Buena Park and the recently opened Porky’s Pizza in Bixby Knolls. But the Bixby Knolls Arnold’s has remained special in the minds of the family because it was the first and because of its remarkable longevity.
Jim Arnold said he was excited to return to the restaurant he knew so well in his childhood.
He, like Johnson, grew up in the neighborhood, and lived just three blocks from the restaurant until he was 9 years old.
Even after his uncle took over the business, Arnold would stop in nearly every Saturday on his way to the Crest Theatre, Town Theatre or one of the other venues that made the Bixby Knolls neighborhood such a popular destination in his youth.
“When Mike first came to me and started talking about the possibility [of joining him to manage Arnold’s], one of the reasons my interest was piqued was the way he’s maintained the restaurant,” Arnold said.
According to Johnson, little has changed with the restaurant because Miles Arnold’s original model has worked so well since the very beginning.
“We’ve always taken this very seriously,” Johnson said of the food that is prepared daily with the freshest of ingredients. In spite of the convenience of parboiled or prepackaged foods, his kitchen continues to shun them. “To this day, we still taste everything. We have many things that take two days to create.”
He is cautious, however, not to confuse consistency with complacency. Their catering menu continues to pick up steam, their summer menu now features a variety of fresh salad options and the restaurant’s baked goods have become so popular, Arnold’s now gets numerous requests from other restaurants to keep them supplied with muffins and pies.
“We haven’t made too many changes, but we are always looking to improve,” Johnson said. Still, he’s well aware of what they’re doing right, and he adds, “We’ll put our fried chicken up against anybody’s.”
Arnold’s Cafeteria and Bakery is located at 3925 Atlantic Avenue in Bixby Knolls. For more information, call (562) 424-8573.
