The Inland Press-Enterprise of Southern California published an excellent article about Juan Pollo restaurant chain owner Albert Okura and his efforts to restore Roy’s and the nearly abandoned town of Amboy, Calif.
“Everyone who has owned Amboy has been in it to make money,” he said. “You can’t.
“I see this as a marketing avenue for Juan Pollo restaurants. In the next 20 years, the biggest growth in Southern California will be in the Mojave Desert. Everything is built out in the Inland Empire.”
But no, he won’t launch a Juan Pollo in Amboy.
“That would not be in character with the town,” he said. “Amboy has the potential to be the greatest Route 66 attraction on the West Coast. There’s nothing like it anywhere. The good thing about the town is that it’s paid off. There is no debt.”
This is where the chickens come in.
“Primarily, we will fund the restoration through the company,” Okura said. “We will pay as we go, however long it takes. What we get is the good will. I will get more good will by keeping it, as best I can, the way it was.”
There’s a lot more interesting material in the article. Okura just trying to make progress, even if it’s slow.
The Press-Enterprise also produced a 4 1/2-minute video at Roy’s.
If Okura would put a Juan Pollo in Tulsa, I’d jump off the veggie wagon. Their food is WAY better than fast food has any right to be.