Historic Arby’s sign in Hollywood faces uncertain future

James Moody pulled into the parking lot at 5920 W. Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood on Tuesday morning to reminisce and take some photos.

His destination was not one of Hollywood’s typical tourist attractions, like a famous theater or a star on the Walk of Fame, but rather a large neon sign that many consider historic.

Over the weekend, the owners of the Arby’s franchise in Hollywood abruptly closed their fast-food restaurant, citing financial difficulties that began during the pandemic.

“I’ve been coming here since 1985 when I first moved to Los Angeles,” Moody recalled. “It’s sad to see it go.”

Since 1969, the neon sign with the cowboy hat has welcomed guests and motorists and promised “delicious” roast beef sandwiches (and other fast food dishes).

Located between the two historic film studios, Sunset Bronson and Sunset Gower, and just blocks from numerous other entertainment establishments, this Arby’s has hosted countless celebrities over the decades.

“Jerry Seinfeld came by a few years ago with his show Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee,” recalls Debby Husch, daughter of franchise owner Marilyn Leviton, who is now 91 years old. “Brad Pitt, Lawrence Fishburn and Tom Felton were spotted in the drive-thru. Dean Winters, Tim Allen, David Harbour and Chrissy Metz, among others, came in. And that’s only been the case for a few years!”

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel is also a fan.

Just last month, Kimmel included Arby’s in a comedy segment with his family and fellow host and friend Jon Stewart. The segment ended with Stewart being dropped off at the restaurant and later showing up at Kimmel’s live in-studio taping with a bag of food.

As news of the closure spread, dozens of people stopped by the boarded-up building to see, they believe, the iconic sign one more time. But while the restaurant may be closed for good, the sign isn’t going away anytime soon.

“We have a vested interest in the community being happy with what we do with the property, including the sign,” said Blake Megdal, whose investment firm owns the building and property. “As a native Angeleno, that’s important to me.”

Megdal declined to reveal any further plans for the property, saying only that the sign will remain there – at least for now.

Los Angeles has designated the Arby’s sign as potentially historic and listed it as a local landmark. The city’s online registry calls it an “excellent example of 1960s commercial signage; exhibits distinctive design features that reflect the commercial ethos of the era, including eye-catching shapes and neon lighting.”

Husch even says the Museum of Neon Arts in Glendale, which houses a wide variety of glowing signs, has contacted her family in case his future is in question.

Fortunately, the likelihood of the giant cowboy hat ending up in a junkyard or a dumpster seems to be zero.

For now, the family plans to keep the sign illuminated for the next few days.

“The restaurant, and especially our neon sign, has generated so much love that we turn it on and have people come by to take some photos with it,” said Gary Husch, Debby’s husband and the restaurant’s former general manager. “The response has been incredible and truly unexpected.”