Cook's Corner

Cook's Corner is an Orange County, California bar built in 1884 that is popular with motorcyclists.[1] It is located between the city of Lake Forest and the unincorporated community of Silverado. Cook's Corner is situated at the intersection of Santiago Canyon and Trabuco Canyon.

Cook's Corner
Bikes in front of Cook's Corner, circa 2005
Restaurant information
Established1884
Food typeAmerican
Dress codeCasual
Street address19152 Santiago Canyon Rd
CityTrabuco Canyon
StateCalifornia
Postal/ZIP Code92679
CountryUnited States

History

The building is named for Andrew Jackson Cook, a merchant who acquired 190 acres (77 ha) of land in the South Orange County area. The building was constructed not long after, in 1884. In 1926, Cook's son, Earl Jack "E.J." Cook, converted the structure into a restaurant meant to supply food to miners and local ranchers. Seven years later, after the end of the Prohibition period, alcohol began being sold again, and Cook's was converted into a bar. The Cook family sold Cook's, which included the bar, the Cook's family house, and about 40 acres of land to two owners, Victor Villa and Volker Streicek, of the Santa Ana, California based motorcycle accessories company Cheat'ah Engineering in 1975. The Cook family purchased a ranch in Montana and moved out of Southern California. Volker and Victor had founded Cheat'ah Engineering in 1969, along with Ron Rondeau. They purchased Cook's as an investment, but also as a place where motorcycle clubs could gather in peace. Volker and Victor were proud of the fact that Cook's was a place to party with very few fights between motorcycle clubs and patrons. The owners established a policy where no motorcycle club colors were allowed at Cook's. Cook's became one of the more famous social places for bikers in Southern California. Volker and his wife Shirley ran the bar in the late 70's, before moving to Colorado. Victor and Volker sold Cook's in the 1980s. Volker died on March 29, 2011 in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.[2] Victor still lives in Southern California.

Cook's today

Today's Cook's Corner is a wooden structure similar to a World War II-era restaurant and bar. The property includes a pool table, outdoor recreational area for horseshoe games, as well as trails for mountain biking and hiking. The majority of bikers come to Cook's Corner on the weekends, when Cook's hosts a number of events, mainly dealing with motorcycles, including the "CHOC ride of 2006," and the "9/11 Remembrance ride." On the first Sunday of May each year, [3] about 2,000 come for the annual Blessing of the Bikes given by a priest of nearby St. Michael's Abbey. [4] In May 2006, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger made a stop in Orange County, and ate at Cook's Corner. During the California wildfires of October 2007, newscasters reporting on the Santiago Fire ate lunch at Cook's Corner, as well as firefighters working to control the blaze.

In May 2008, a small-scale landslide destroyed a large section of the famous outdoor patio. ABC 7 and NBC 4 were among some of the news teams that broadcast the event. Damages were somewhat minor, and the repairs took just a few days.

Motorcycles at Cook's Corner


See also

References

Notes
  1. Yi, Daniel (February 27, 2005), "Face-lift for vintage biker bar; Past meets future as new owners spiff up canyon landmark", Los Angeles Times
  2. KELOWNA OBITUARIES, 1 Apr 2011.
  3. Biker Wear, 2 Jan 2010.
  4. OC Register, 2 Jan 2010.

References
  • Berkman, Leslie (6 May 1991), "Ritzy Riders Rubs, Or Rich Urban Bikers, Mount Their Harleys Dressed In Designer Jeans Instead Of Black Leather", Los Angeles Times, p. 1
  • Berkman, Leslie (10 November 1991), "New Class Of Harley Fans 'Rubs' Bikers The Wrong Way", Chicago Sun-Times, p. 53
  • Earnest, Leslie (17 September 1993), "Laguna Beach Noise Is Rub, 'Rubbies' Are Told", Los Angeles Times, p. 2
  • Hall, Landon (10 June 2010), "Winding Journey; An Inherited Spirit Moves A Lake Forest Bartender To Circle The Continental U.S. On Her Harley", Orange County Register
  • Hinch, Robin (3 November 2006), "A Life Story: Motorcyclist Died Doing What She Loved", Orange County Register, p. 1
  • Larsen, Peter (22 January 2011), "TV show to audition biker foodies in O.C.", Orange County Register
  • Martelle, Scott (22 August 1999), "It Meets Canyon Code; But For Cook's Corner, Built In '46, County Rules Are Another Matter", Los Angeles Times, p. 1
  • Ritchie, Erika I (17 September 2010), "1,000-Plus Bikers Rumble Through Orange County For 9/11 Ride", Orange County Register
  • Ritchie, Erika I (17 December 2010), "Santa Roars In On Harley At Cook's Corner", Orange County Register
  • Venegas, Ana (19 July 2010), "Cruising For A Cause; The Ladies Who Ride Fundraiser Benefits A Breast Cancer Charity", Orange County Register
  • Webb, Claire (11 September 2010), "Organizer Expects 9/11 Memorial Riders To Follow Traffic Rules; Disagreement Arose After One Participant Held Traffic At An Intersection Last Year", Orange County Register

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