This comprehensive body of work documents the fascinating variety of sizes, signage, décor, construction and design to be found among them. Although my photographs are documentary in nature, my objective has been to have them be artistic as well, embracing elements of formal organization and style. I have aimed at realism, but not at the cost of sacrificing aesthetic factors.

Whether called joints, stands or shacks, these small, freestanding eateries with little, if any, on-site seating struggle to survive in the face of rising real estate prices, increasingly more stringent building and health code regulations and changing demographics.

Husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, mothers and daughters work in these little claustrophobic structures, hot in the summer and cold in the winter. On their feet twelve to fourteen hours a day, six and sometimes seven days a week, new comers from diverse cultural and ethic groups take their entrepreneurial first steps at attaining the American dream of having a business of one’s own.

Some of these joints have noteworthy connections: Irv’s Burgers was pictured on the inner foldout of Linda Ronstadt’s "Living in the USA" album; "Sunset Grill" (demolished and replaced with a rather nondescript successor) was the subject of the Don Henley song of the same name; "Tail of the Pup" served hot dogs to Steve Martin in "L. A. Story," and "Molly’s Burger & Hot Dog" was used as a backdrop for several movies, including "Busting," "The Golden Child" and "Jimmy Hollywood."

Others have undergone one or more changes of name and/or extensive renovation either by virtue of having come under new ownership or in a last-ditch effort at self preservation. To accommodate a neighborhood’s change in demographics, menus which featured hamburgers and hot dogs have given way to those featuring tacos and burritos, while former purveyors of such Mexican fare now feature teriyaki and other Asian specialities.

Thus, "Red’s of Hollywood" (while retaining the distinctive giant hot dog perched on its roof) is now "Thai Town Express" and "Orange Bee Jay" has been converted to "Machos Tacos." "Rocky’s Famous Hot Dogs," the hamburger-featuring "Grill on Hill," and the hamburger and taco-serving "Phil’s Place have all converted to Asian fare under the names "Sweet Home Grill," "KUKU Teriyaki" and "Prince Restaurant," respectively.

From time to time, I have returned to previously-photographed sites to photograph a new owner’s change of design, signage and/or menu.  Placed side by side, these diptychs (and, in some cases, triptychs) highlight the changing character of the neighborhood, giving a sense of history to these little fast-food joints. 

A great many of these eateries have gone out of business, their structures abandoned or demolished, some just months after I had photographed them (e.g., “Grandma’s Kitchen,” “Los 3 Potrillos,” “Chinese Kitchen,” “Kosher Burrito,” “Andy’s Kitchen,” “Jay’s Jayburgers,” “Mo Better Meaty Meat Burgers” and “Jack’s Classic Hamburgers”).