Goodbye, Jack-in-the-Box

This was a Jack-in-the-Box, until recently, located at the corner of PCH and Hawthorne in south Torrance.  A few months ago there was a sign in the window saying they were closed for construction, but I never saw anyone working on the place.  Next thing I know, the sign was gone and the logo was off the roof.  I assume it's for sale, but I have yet to see a For Sale sign.

Two of my friends worked there in the early 70's.  Their hourly rate was the minimum wage at the time, $1.65.  I, on the other hand, was working at Hughes Market and making a whopping $2.02 per hour.  I thought I had it made.  However, they got to take damaged food home.  For example, my friend Kathleen would "accidentally" poke a hole in the apple turnover and then have to eat it.  I never got to take any damaged food home from Hughes.

The other interesting thing about this Jack-in-the-Box is that there used to be a Shell Station next to it, but it's been gone for many years.  I noted that only women seemed to work there.  This was during the time when gas station attendants pumped your gas, so I saw the female employees servicing the cars whenever I drove by.   After the Shell Station closed, the building was torn down and the lot remained vacant, as it is today.   The car wash next to it is closed also.  This corner is now blighted.  Sad, because it's across the street from some thriving businesses.