---
title: "Los Angeles Times: Ruby’s Diner, Born of Humble Beginnings in an Old Bait Shop, Celebrates its 35th Anniversary"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/b932f857-7fca-45be-be7e-c4ad0469d6c2
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/los-angeles-times-rubys-diner-born-of-humble-beginnings-in-an-old-bait-shop-celebrates-its-35th-anniversary-2704831
category: "Family dining"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Family dining"
published: 2017-11-15T15:10:00.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T04:10:16.027Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/9bf56af12af5aa36f1ba752de1e6f4e76261.jpg
---

# Los Angeles Times: Ruby’s Diner, Born of Humble Beginnings in an Old Bait Shop, Celebrates its 35th Anniversary

**TL;DR:** Ruby's Diner celebrates its 35th anniversary, having grown from a humble beginning to a restaurant empire with 30 locations across the country. The brand is known for its classic 1940's diner theme and quality food and service.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2017-11-15. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/los-angeles-times-rubys-diner-born-of-humble-beginnings-in-an-old-bait-shop-celebrates-its-35th-anniversary-2704831).*

## Story

For years, a dilapidated building at the end of the Balboa Pier in California reminded people of the bait shop that it used to be. But when Doug Cavanaugh passed it on a jog, he recognized its potential to be something new.

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, it was that thought that created the restaurant empire now known as Ruby’s Diner 35 years ago. Since that first location opened its doors, the brand has grown to about 30 locations across the country that are known for its classic 1940’s diner theme. That sense of nostalgia is tied to the brand’s success—Ruby’s taps into quality food and service that resonates with a wide variety of consumers.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Ned Westfall, general manager of the Ruby’s in Laguna Hills, said, “It’s a business that meets all the different age groups that are out there. It’s a place where families can go, where teenagers can bring a date, where older folks can get a great meal.”

Ruby’s is officially celebrating its 35th anniversary on December 7 by offering a special burger for a discount. A portion of each sale will go to the Ruby Dooby Foundation.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- brand expansion (topic)
- Ruby's Diner (company)
- restaurant anniversary (topic)
- charity foundation (topic)
- classic diner theme (topic)

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Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/los-angeles-times-rubys-diner-born-of-humble-beginnings-in-an-old-bait-shop-celebrates-its-35th-anniversary-2704831). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/b932f857-7fca-45be-be7e-c4ad0469d6c2).