Doggie Diner
by Arnold Woods
July 2001
Nearly three months after a cruel April Fool s Day tumble, the historic Doggie Diner dog s head sign on Sloat Boulevard was restored in a ceremony on Saturday, June 30, 2001. As the crowd of several hundred dog s head aficionados counted down from 10, a Department of Public Works crane slowly lifted up a white sheet, revealing a newly refurbished and sharper-looking dog s head.
The dog s head odyssey began with a chain of fast-food restaurants called the Doggie Diner. The chain opened in 1949 and reached the height of its popularity in the 1960 s and 70 s with restaurants throughout the Bay Area. Outside each restaurant stood a 7-foot tall fiberglass dog s head modeled on a red dachshund with white hat and blue tie that was a big hit with kids and adults alike.