Denny's is putting a spin on an L.A. original with the restoration of the historic Van de Kamp Dutch bakery windmill. On June 29, Denny's will officially restart the local landmark, the only remaining Van de Kamp windmill, which sits atop the Denny's restaurant in Arcadia. To commemorate the long-awaited revival, Denny's is inviting the Arcadia community to join them in a daylong celebration serving up diner favorites at retro prices and a chance to win exclusive prizes.
"As America's Diner, we're known for putting a modern spin on all-American classics and offering a unique taste of nostalgia," says John Miller, Denny's president and chief executive officer. "As another L.A. original, Denny's takes great pride in its heritage and we're honored to bring the historic windmill back to its former glory and share a slice of local history with our guests."
Originally built in 1967, the Arcadia windmill sits atop the building's Googie-style architecture roof, and was designed by Pasadena architects Harold Bissner and Harold Zook. Denny's has worked closely with a fabrication company to honor the windmill's historic style, staying true to the original architecture while incorporating modern finishes. The restaurant has invested more than $100,000 to recondition the original blades, inserting new motor, and installing LED lighting to illuminate the landmark at night.
Denny's and the Arcadia community will celebrate the reactivation of the windmill with an official “switch-on” at Arcadia Park, located at the corner of W. Huntington Dr. and S. Santa Anita Avenue, across the street from the Denny's restaurant. At 2 p.m., former Arcadia Mayor and a driving force behind the windmill's revival, George Fasching, will turn on the windmill alongside members of Denny's leadership team in front of local notables, Arcadia City Council Members and Arcadia Mayor Pro Tem, Peter Amundson and the public.
"The reactivation of the windmill is not only an exciting day for the residents of Arcadia, but for all of us at Denny's," adds Joseph Giordano, Denny's senior director of Franchise and Company Development. "We've been a key part of this community for many years, and we couldn't think of a better way to thank our friends and neighbors for their continued support than with a celebration."
Denny's is inviting the Arcadia community to stop by the restaurant on June 29 for an all-day event. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. guests may enjoy diner favorites at throwback prices, including a Stack of Pancakes for only 99 cents. Denny's prize wheel will also be spinning all day, offering guests a chance to win celebratory windmill T-shirts and coffee mugs, while kids will have the option to build their own windmill with a limited time activity sheet.
