DOWNEY – Changing times and economic turmoil may bring about the end of another landmark and cultural institution in Downey at the end of October if negotiations fail to renew the lease for Stox Restaurant Bakery and Bar.
The 64-year-old restaurant boasts historical, as well as architectural, significance. It opened at the corner of Imperial and Bellflower in 1962 as North American Aviation was expanding its role in the Apollo space program. Peak employment at the facility during the 1960s reached 25,000 and the plant was open 24/7—three shifts around the clock.
Added to the large workforce already on site were the engineers, scientists, test pilots and astronauts who came often to Downey from Houston, Florida, and Washington, D.C. With its nearby location and great food, Stox was the place to visit…