President Clinton Had Lunch at Rocky Cola Café

You may have heard this legend, and yes, it’s true. In 1996, then President Bill Clinton, on a campaign tour for his second term in office, stopped for lunch at Montrose’s favorite restaurant, Rocky Cola Café, located at 2201 Honolulu.

In June of 1996, President Clinton was scheduled to make a speech at Glendale Community College. It was an overwhelming event for the college, the first Presidential visit they had experienced, and they set up bleachers for 1500 spectators in their central plaza. On the political spectrum, everyone who was anyone was there, including Glendale Mayor Sheldon Baker (who Clinton introduced as “Calvin” Baker), future LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, and the conservative Republican State Assemblyman James Rogan, who was then running for US Congress. Rogan was asked if he was in the wrong place when seen at the Democratic President’s speech. He quipped, “No, he’s in the wrong place,” referring to Glendale’s conservative reputation.

At the end of his speech, the President asked where he could get a good burger around there. Several voices in the crowd yelled “Rocky Cola” and the President’s staff looked the restaurant up. During a busy lunchtime, the Rocky Cola manager got a call that the President was on his way. Of course, she dismissed it as a joke – until the Secret Service showed up ahead of the motorcade.

As the President entered, the patrons, who had no idea this would happen, were asked to remain seated for about 10 minutes while the Secret Service agents got situated. After that the customers were allowed to leave if they wanted, but no new customers could come in.

If you remember the layout of Rocky Cola, you might remember that just to the right of the staircase that led to the upper level was a very large circular booth. That’s where the President and his entourage were seated. For the Secret Service it was the perfect spot as there were no windows at that booth. Directly above the President’s booth was a booth on the upper level. The Secret Service agents occupied that booth, where they could look out over the entire restaurant, including the President’s booth. Agents were stationed at the back door and the front door. Although they were dressed the part of the Secret Service, dark glasses, ear buds and suits (with bulges where their guns were), they were all sucking on milkshakes, which looked out of place. Other agents manned the kitchen to monitor the food preparation.

Twenty-six-year-old Kelly Moore was the President’s waitress. Was she nervous? No, she told reporters afterwards. “Authority doesn’t get to me,” she said. She reported that he ordered a buffalo burger with fries. She also reported that he left a very good tip, 30%. We don’t know what the Secret Service agents tipped. It’s a secret.

After his meal, the President went booth-to-booth in the restaurant, shaking hands and signing autographs. In one of the booths was the aforementioned Republican James Rogan (coincidence?). Rogan got a handshake, and one of his staffers got an autograph on the back of a “Rogan for Congress” card, along with the words “Good luck Jim”. The irony? Two years later, Congressman Rogan served on the impeachment trial of President Clinton.

After that, the President left, wading into the crowd that had gathered outside, shaking hands, and the Presidential lunch became a Montrose legend.

Rocky Cola also became a Montrose legend when it closed in 2012. Curiously, it has sat vacant since then. In 2017, a La Canada restaurateur began working on a new family restaurant for the spot called Gus and Andy’s Montrose Grill. The most exciting aspect (for me) is that the new owner plans to remove the plywood upper façade and expose the old art deco façade beneath. That façade can be seen in some of the old photos displayed in the window. But we all know how hard it is to navigate Glendale’s Byzantine permitting process, so the project has languished. But workers are in there lately so there’s hope that a restaurant may finally open there.

  mike lawler