A Politically Incorrect Blog About Living in Woodland Hills, California

FedEx/Kinkos was indeed a bank (actually, a couple of them) but was originally a Disco! Back in the 80s, Woodland Hills was filled with these places. The spot in question was a “Flannigan’s Big Daddy’s”, and next to it was “Reuben’s Summerhouse”.

Over on Canoga, where BJ’s is (was? I never go there), was the infamous Red Onion, and Ventura and Corbin was home to Tennessee Gin & Cotton.

God it’s hard to believe there was actually night life (albeit lousy) in Woodland Hills at one time!

Thanks for the info DRG91367! I love exploring the history of the buildings and places around us!  Personally, I am fascinated by the many tile mosaics found on banking facades in the valley.  I hope that this one on the Kinkos will be saved when they demolish the building.

I dug a little bit and found this article about the history of Flanigan’s.  Here are some of the highlights that you may or may not find as fascinating as I do:

As they evolved, Flanigan’s Big Daddy’s liquor lounges became the most popular gathering spots for legions of students on spring-break in South Florida. Bikini contests and drinking competitions were seductive draws, as was the availability of 38-cent drinks at Big Daddy’s lounges. Flanigan, who stood six-feet tall and weighed more than 230 pounds, held sway over the annual festivities, embodying the drunken rowdiness that made South Florida famous as a spring-break Mecca. Within ten years, Flanigan’s Enterprises was generating $15 million in annual revenue, with the lack of capital representing virtually the only impediment to further growth.

In 1969, Flanigan sought to resolve the company’s financial shortcomings by taking it public, but he was able to do so only after convincing the American Stock Exchange that his business had no ties to organized crime. Once he dispelled this suspicion, and the company completed its initial public offering of stock, the proceeds were used to finance expansion. During the next several years, he opened Big Daddy’s lounges throughout Florida and related lounges in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Nashville, Tennessee, and Mobile, Alabama. By 1972, four years after registering $15 million in sales, Flanigan’s Enterprises generated $38 million.

Bad Decisions in the 1970s

As Flanigan expanded his chain, the need for further capital became a persistent problem. The proceeds from the public offering provided enough funds for the company’s initial growth spurt, but more was needed. Consequently, Flanigan began to borrow heavily, using bank loans to build a financial operating base for national expansion. Bankers were reluctant to lend Flanigan as much as he wanted, however, so he was forced to search for other ways to raise cash. The solution to the problem ended up being the worst business decision Flanigan ever made.

And, after a long blurb about some bad lease deals that Flanigan made:

To make matters worse, Flanigan’s Enterprises suffered from other mistakes during the period as well. In the late 1970s, the company tried to capitalize on the pervasive discotheque trend. Flanigan ordered the construction of giant, three-story nightclubs that featured delicatessens, dancing, and packaged liquor for carry-out. The business failed primarily because the discotheque fad faded just as Flanigan’s three-story nightclubs were opening their doors. Flanigan also tried to capitalize on another trend: he built an expensive racquet club in Atlanta, hoping to reap rewards from the popularity of the fitness movement. The foray failed in 1979 when a patron at the Atlanta club was electrocuted as he sat in an improperly grounded Jacuzzi.

Gotta love the 70s! Check out the full article for much more salacious details.  The funny part is that the company still exists, albeit much smaller, in Florida.

Oh, and just to leave you with an example of the kind of fun that went on at Flanigan’s Big Daddy – from the August 20, 1978 Valley Variety page of the LA Times:

August 20, 1978 Disco Advertisement