Bono’s Restaurant and Deli at 15395 Foothill Blvd., aka Route 66, in Fontana, Calif., was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, effective Jan. 10.
The National Park Service made the announcement in an e-mail Friday evening.
Bono’s also was the longtime home to the Bono’s Historic Orange stand, an orange-shaped building that was used to sell orange juice.
Here’s a little history of the restaurant:
Bono’s Italian Restaurant and Orange Stand in Fontana, California are iconic mainstays of the original Route 66. Bono’s Italian Restaurant was opened in 1936 to supplement Bono family farm revenue. Sadly, both the restaurant and orange stand are now closed due to the passing of the original Bono generation. Both the restaurant and orange stand are still extant on Foothill Boulevard, which is old Route 66 in Fontana. The restaurant appears locked in time as many of the original plates, utensils, chairs and tables are still visible through the windows. It is as if the restaurant was closed normally one night and just never opened again.
There’s been reports in the past couple of years that Bono’s might reopen again, but I haven’t heard anything new in a while.
The 1930s orange stand is not listed in the National Register, it’s the 1943 restaurant next door that also used to be a stand and was expanded into a full restaurant.
Bono’s Orange, next door, was moved there in the late 1990s to save it, but originally stood a few miles east on the same road (Foothill Blvd).
The most recent news, as of last Thursday (June 24, 2008) is that Joe Bono is reopening the orange stand as soon as he can get the permits.
The post made it clear that it was the restaurant, not the orange stand, that received the National Register listing.
And I posted a story about the orange stand possibly reopening a few days ago.
I happened to speak to the owner this morning while I was taking photographs.
It remains up in the air as to if the restaurant will re-open. Work is being done, however, there are issues with the city.
C’mon someone from the city of Fontana. Go down there and work with people to accompish the goal.
I happend to have the great pleasure of speaking with Joe yesterday (I was also there to take photographs). Almost a year later, the permitting is still stalled and the City is still not allowing the opening of the restaurant. It is just an absolute shame. Joe was wonderfully generous with his time, and this restaurant and history needs to continue!