The Matchcover Storyteller

The matchcover says the restaurant has been open since 1925 — that’s because there were a half-dozen locations at one time.

“Tip” was Sinclair “Tip” Jardine, born in the 1890s in St. Clair, Michigan, dying in 1957 in California. He had several locations in the Los Angeles area before this particular spot did indeed open in 1947. ; This location in Valencia in California’s Santa Clarita Valley has one perhaps mythical claim to fame:

In citation after citation, it is suggested that Tip’s was the place of James Dean’s last meal. It’s unsubstantiated, but strongly believed that the troubled iconic young actor stopped here for pie and milk on September 30th, 1955. Just hours later, he died in a car crash — his story is that of movieland legend, but the stop at Tips is in dispute.

I suppose the only other possible claim to fame is a great bartender. Tip Jardine recruited Philippine immigrant Bobby Batugo to mix drinks. His concoctions were innovative and exotic to the point where he is the only three-time national champion in the United States Bartenders Guild competition and 1973 winner of the International Cocktail competition. His “Icy Sea” cocktail used gin, rum, Amaretto, grenadine, triple sec and tropical fruit juices — I couldn’t find a recipe, but have fun!

Redevelopment was one of the causes for Tip’s restaurants to start disappearing in the late 80s. The last one closed in 1990.
You can see he had a slew of covers. This note started with the 30-strike rear strike that is also a woodgrain.