Griffs Jobs

My Start Up Jobs
Job #1 - Johnny’s Hamburger Stand 1967
Growing up in South Pasadena, CA as kids walking home from Junior
High School we used to love going to Johnny’s Hamburger stand just a
few blocks from our campus located on Fair Oaks Avenue in South
Pasadena. Johnny’s was a one-man operation and Johnny the owner was
probably a WWII veteran I imagine. He did not talk much and was a
bit grouchy. I recall he barely every smiled. I assume he probably was a
cook in the war. I never asked him. What Johnny did was make the best
hamburger for us hungry kids that money could buy. His hamburger
with his special sauce cost us .20 cents and included a 6-oz. small cup
of Coke with one ice cube which I recall was very flat almost watery but
worth the .20 cents. How Johnny made a living at his hamburger stand I
don’t know. He seemed perfectly content although a bit grouchy feeding
us hungry school kids aged 12- 15 years old with his tasty hamburgers
for the three years I attended Junior High. Back to my first job, one day I
believe It was a Saturday, I just happened to be in the area after playing
on the nearby fields at the Junior High with nothing else to do that day.
I approached Johnny and asked if I could have a job. Johnny looked at
me a bit surprised and said I do need the stand cleaned so grab a towel
and start cleaning kid. Hired on the spot I scrubbed and cleaned his
red metal exterior walls, inside counters and red swivel seats in about 2
hours. He paid me $5 for my efforts, it felt good, my first paid job.
Sarita Mandala – The Boss
My Italian Born Grandmother pictured above who immigrated from
Piana degli Albanese, Sicily to Lincoln Heights, Ca in 1921 owned several rental
properties which included the Eagle Rock Movie Theatre.
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