Thursday, September 23, 2010

The Yorba Room at Buffum's

An anonymous OCThen reader remembers going to the Yorba Room at Buffum's for lunch...

Is there anyone who remembers the Yorba Room at Buffum's? I lived in Santa Ana from 1954 thru 1962. As a special treat, my mother took me there for a Monte Cristo sandwich after she went shopping....There were beautiful murals on the walls of historic scenes of California, done beautifully in sophisticated muddy colors...one was an orange tree that had 3 dimensional oranges sticking out. It made such an impression on me...I am an artist today and would love to see a photo of that room....I don't think any exist.

I do remember the Buffum's in Santa Ana off of Main St., but I never went there. However, I remember when K-Mart used to have cafeterias, and my mom and I would eat lunch there.

38 comments:

  1. I remember the Yorba Room at Buffum's in Santa Ana well. My mother, too, often took me for lunch there. I always got a creme de menthe ice cream sundae sort of dessert. It was pale green mint ice cream with real creme de menthe poured over it. At least it seemed real! It was such a nice restaurant. Remember the second floor addition that ran out over the back area like a bridge? Cars drove beneath it to get to the parking. I still compare good stores to my Buffum's memories.

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  2. Oh yes, that Yorba Room....they had the best brown and serve rolls with a pat of butter by the plate. Say, does anyone remember the men's department at Buffums? A gentleman with a white moustache named Mike Noon held court there, selling Hickey Freeman suits...and over at the womens beuaty counter they were mixing up custom compacts with powders to order especially for the individual complexion...

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  3. I used to work for Buffum's in the early 80's, (Laguna Hills) that store was such an institution!. I remember going to the closing of the Santa Ana store so sad.... and the closing of the flagship Long Beach store. what amazing places they were aww. I miss the feeling of being somewhere special when you went shopping. that was truly a different time and a time that I miss!
    a fun fact about Buffum's ...they used to supply all of the clothes to the soap "The Young and the Restless"

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  4. And just to add to that Buffum's memory, was there anything more exciting than to get a gift in that cream colored box with golden sea shell pattern on it with a big white satin ribbon?!!! They really took pride in gift wrapping there.

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  5. Yes, I lived in Santa Ana from '58-'61 and we would shop at Buffums. I had lunch on several occasion in the Yorba Room and the murals, which were very popular then, was fantastic. As was the Monte Cristo sandwich! We moved back to Santa Ana in '63, and resumed shopping at Buffums. In the mid-late sixties they featured live models in the women's wear dept. I think it was in keeping with the mod trend at the time.

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  6. My family ate at the Yorba Room at least once a month. I remember the small cinmamon rolls they had, so good.

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  7. The Buffums buiding is still there in Santa Ana but it now houses the probation department. I wonder if those murals still remain. I have some old sugar packets from the Yorba Room. One old place next to the Buffum's building is still in operation and has been since the 40's. At 112 E. 9th St in Santa Ana, CA is POP'S CAFE. Fantastic diner food open for breakfast and lunch. (714) 543-2772 There is metered parking on the street during the week but on weekends, you can park in the old Buffum's parking lot across the street for free.
    Anthony Reichardt
    Santa Ana, CA

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  8. I wish I could say I remember the Yorba room; but I will tell you that - That Buffums was the first department store I took my daughters to at Christmas to visit Santa Claus. Best of luck locating any photos of that Orange Tree!

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  9. There is a site called The Dept. Store Museum- he has some pictures under Buffums:
    http://departmentstoremuseum.blogspot.com/2010/05/welcome-to-museum.html

    I also remember the restaurant at Buffums in Santa Ana, but didn't know it had a name. I also didn't know there were so many Buffums. My mom would shop at Bufums if she needed something really nice. When I was real young, sometimes we went to a dept. Store in Long Beach, I think it was also Buffums. There weren't many big Dept. Stores in the late '50's in OC.

    I also remember Fashion Square in Santa Ana- with Bullock's- it is now Main Place. I always enjoyed it before it was Main Place. I remember there was a gourmet food store there called Jorgensen's. Also, I think, a Wet Seal- when they sold good clothes back then. This was in the early '70's.

    I also remember The Orange Mall- before it was a mall- all that was there was Sears. That was around 1968.

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  10. I remember the Yorba Room. My mom would take me shopping at Buffum's and then we would go to the Yorba room for Hot Fudge Sundae's. I also used to go there when they had their fashion shows. And yes I also remember Fashion Square and I swore that the Santa Claus outside of Bullocks was the REAL Santa!

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  11. I remember going to Buffum's for lunch with my sisters, mother and grandmother. Buffum's served a luncheon entree called "For the Ladies" featuring chicken salad, fruit salad, and date nut bread. It was so yummy. I wish someone would produce a recipe booklet with some of those great simple recipes. Everything about Buffum's was tasteful and elegant, it was a sad day when they closed. And you are right about their gift boxes; if you received a present in Buffum's wrap, you knew it was going to be a special gift. Shopping has never been the same.

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  12. I was born at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach in 1959 and grew up in Santa Ana, CA, 1959-1974. My grandmother, Josephine Lloyd, (Josie) was the head cook at Buffum's for as long as I can remember. She was a fantastic cook and took great pride in her job. Buffum's was the Nieman Marcus of department stores before the era of shopping malls; to this day I remember Buffum's excelled in retail goods and customer service was provided with great pride and care. It's fantasitic to see other folks memories of Buffum's as mine are so fond growing up in Santa Ana. Life's plan has has moved me from Nevada, to Maryland/Washington DC and now North Carolina. Two weeks ago I visited Orange County for 10 days and didn't have the opportunity to drive by the old Buffum's on Main Street to smile and think of the good old days. Grandma' Josies favorite was thing to eat at work was the creme de mente ice cream... She was a naughty diabetic her entire life and I love all her memories. Grandma Josie passed away in 1999 and I love her dearly. Cheers to everyone's fond memories of Buffum's. I look forward to moving back to South California in the next few years for good!

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  13. I remember the Yorba Room. My mother worked in the credit department of Buffum's in the late 60's and pretty much my school wardrobe came from Buffum's. I spent a lot of time in their fabric department too while waiting for Mom to get off work.

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  14. My mom was a "salad woman" at Buffum's in Santa Ana, California 1966-1968. She made salad's for people. She came home from work one time and told me that John Wayne had come in to the store and eaten one of her salad's. She was quite proud. My mom died in 1968 when I was 15 years old. I will soon be 58 years old. It was a LONG time ago. I was a real momma's boy! I cried for three days when she died. To this day it was the most horrible thing that has ever happened to me. I still think about and miss her almost every day. I now live in Middle Tennessee. It's been a long journey.

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    Replies
    1. Art -

      You have a treasure of memories left by your mother to carry you through life along with her undying love. It is believed by many that God takes those who are special to his side early in life. Take comfort in that she is now in good hands.

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    2. I just came across this post...it made me so sad for you. I just lost my mother 7 months ago and it has still been hard. But loosing your mother at 15 is so, so horrible. You have your wonderful memories of your mother to hold onto now. God Bless.

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  15. Awww...that last post was a heart-tugger. I too loved Buffums and recall the cream of broccoli soup...it was amazing. I lived in Seal Beach down the street from the "Buffum home' on Ocean Street right on the water. It was big and beautiful just like their stores. I remember the cream colored boxes too! Always a welcome sight!!

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  16. I lived about 5 blocks from Buffum's. I loved that store though we didn't buy much there. My sisters and girlfriends and I used to play in the dressing rooms and try not to get caught. If my mother ever knew she never let on.

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  17. steve said he remembered when kmarts had cafeterias. so do i. i remember one time when my grandmother came out to visit we rode the bus all the way from Santa Ana to San Clemente. End of the line was at a Kmart. We went in and ate then got back on the bus and headed back to Santa Ana; where i remember loving to eat though was at Fedco out in Costa Mesa. They had the best hotdogs.

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  18. Buffums was the first store in Santa Ana to have an escalator. My best friend and I loved to go there and run up the down elevator.

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  19. I was in a "Buffy" look alike contest that Buffums Santa Ana hosted with Anissa Jones as the host. Because of her being a celebrity from the popular t.v. show called "Family Affair" and her name being so similar to the Buffums name, they decided to host a breakfast with Buffy and look alike contest in the Yorba Room. I slept in curlers all night because my hair was not naturally curly like Buffy and I didn't win. But I remember sitting not more that two tables over from where she was sitting. I cried and cried when I learned that that little girl died of an overdose...what a waste.

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  20. I worked there as a waitress & hostess mid to late 70's. I remember Kitty, Virginia, Schuyler, Claudine, Janice, Jackie, Joyce (the cook)and I think the busboy was Ralph. It was a great place to work. I have very fond memories of my years there.
    Helen

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  21. I took Magic Lessons and my sister attended Charm School there at Buffums at the same time. At the end of it, they did a Fashion and Magic show. The girls wore Buffums clothing and walked the runway, the 3 of us boys in Magic School did a Magic Show. This was in the Santa Ana store on Main Street.

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  22. The Yorba Room was one of the few nice places to have lunch in downtown SA. Pretty much everything on the varied menu was good, and they offered adult beverages. Although the majority of patrons were upscale shoppers in the store, quite a few businessmen and professions went there, sometime with colleagues or clients. I believe the Buffums chain was owned by an Australian company by the time the SA store closed down. Sorry to see it (and much of the rest of downtown) go.

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  23. My grandmother would take me to the top floor restaurant of the La Habra store to get a monte cristo sandwich. I can honestly say that I've been searching for a monte cristo that even comes close to Buffums' ones. I also liked the 3-levels atrium design with the "floating" escalators. Actually I was almost scared to ride those when I was a kid. I also got my first charge card account there. They had some kind of program that your parents would co-sign for you to have your own junior account. I believe the limit was $200. I still have that card :) I just thought about the commercial they had where the tagline was "I've been to Buffums'" I miss you Buffums!!

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  24. Does anyone remember the Buffums at La Habra Fashion Square (before it was torn down and converted into a discount shopping mall -- sigh)? It was THE department store of my Fullerton childhood. It's funny how much I remember that store: the gazebo-like changing rooms in the children's department, the toy area on the third (?) floor, the tea room and the chocolate-covered reception sticks at the register. It was definitely of a different era. The OP's comment about the "muddy" colors of the murals in the tea room rings a bell, which makes me wonder if the tea rooms were similar. Would love to see pictures of the La Habra Buffums, but haven't found a single one on the web.

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  25. The Yorba Room was one of those places tyhat ther ladies would meet for a little shopping capped off by a lunch date. For a while, even into the 70s, thety would have fashion shows from table to table, featuring clothes you could buy therre, of course. I remember they were famous for their chicken salad, although I found it to be plain old chicken salad like my grandmother made. I worked on broadway and could walk over to Main and have lunch in a staid, classy dining room at Buffums...bit pricey, but hey, it was Buffums!When that store closed, the ladies I worked with made a beeline for the close-out sales!! Some terrific bargains, but I miss that grand old lady on Main!!

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  26. I was doing a search on Buffums and I came upon this site. I loved reading all of your comments about this wonderful store. I am from PA and I aquired a "Fashion Selling Booklet" from Buffums'. It's titled "Rights of Spring 1959". I am thankful to have learned a little bit of history from all of your wonderful posts!

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  27. I remember the Yorba Room very well and it's exciting to see others do as well. It was definitely a special memory of my growing up years in Santa Ana.
    My mother and I would get dressed up and go there often for lunch followed by shopping. I still can see, in my mind, the booth we sat in on many of those special days and the cinnamon rolls were to die for.
    On many occasions there would be a fashion show with models circulating through out and stopping at your table to tell a little about the clothes and the price.
    What a great memory!

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  28. I remember the Yorba room at Buffums very well. My Grandmother worked across the street at Title Insurance. I would take my young son to "visit" her at work and we would each lunch at Buffums. I remember the fresh bread and Ice tea yummmm 30 years later and I can still smell the bread.

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  29. I remember the Yorba Room very well,my mother worked there as a waitress for 25 years (Anita Martin) she worked with Audrey, Goldie (hostess/waitress)Ina,Virgina were some of the waitress. She was a good friend of Josie(head cook). My mother died in 1980. Buffums was a beautiful store and I have some good memories and sad one's too. But I remember how my Mom enjoyed the people, she remembered families with their young kids, and watch them grow and yes those cream colored gift boxes with golden sea shell pattern with a big bow they did take pride in gift wrapping. Lost contract with moms friends at Buffums. Moved away from Orange County and living in Bakersfield.

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  30. Does anyone remember the little candy store near Buffums where they made their own candy in house?

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  31. Girl Scout uniforms, lunch and Neals Sporting Goods.

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  32. Looking for anyone (friends) who worked at Buffums in Westminster 1976 - 1978. Several of them where at my wedding in 1978 then we lost contact. I sure would like to find them. I worked in hosiery/lingerie depts.

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  33. Looking for anyone (friends) who worked at Buffums in Westminster 1976 - 1978. Several of them where at my wedding in 1978 then we lost contact. I sure would like to find them. I worked in hosiery/lingerie depts.

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  34. Looking for friends who worked at Buffums in Westminster, Ca 1976 - 1978. I worked in hosiery/lingerie depts. Many of them attended my wedding in 1978 but, I lost contact with them, sure would love to reconnect or anyone who may remember them.

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  35. What wonderful memories. I shopped at Buffum 's, bought my wedding dress there and after college was a buyer for the store. It was a wonderful store for shopping. It was a great store to work for. I feel a tingle in my heart when I think of it. Oh, and I can't even remember how often I had lunch in the tearoom.

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  36. Oh do I recall Buffums just came across a few old shopping bags and receipts a few years ago when cleaning out my parents house. I tried to keep what I could but hard to preserve after so long. I went there so much still have many of the Lenox plates mom got there with the price tags on the boxes. We ate rarely at the Yorba room it was more a treat and we'd be there off hours so if we did stop in it was deserts I just recall it being pretty dark as a kid. What I recall the best is running up and down the stairs to that upper floor (thought it was the 3rd level) that went over the parking lot till I got stopped for running. Buffums was always part of the shopping day out and paying bills like the phone, electric and gas which were up the street from there (back when folks paid their bills in person). I also recall marketing day was to the ThriftyMart (the big T) and the K-mart on the other side of Santa Ana. Hey don't forget to grab a burger over at the counter in Woolworths if you happen to be downtown there.

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