Cook’s Corner
According to their website, “Cook’s Corner is considered to be one of the most famous biker hangouts in Southern California.” Andrew Jackson “A.J.” Cook traded property on Palomar Mountain for 190 acres of Aliso Canyon in 1884 and started a ranch there, raising hogs, sheep and cattle. And giving his name to this crossroads: Cook’s Corner. In 1931, A. J.’s son, Earl J. “Jack” Cook, carved out a corner of the family ranch to open a burger joint for miners and local ranchers. In 1946, Jack bought a surplus mess hall from the Santa Ana Army Air Base and moved it to Cook’s Corner, giving birth to the version of the tavern we know today. In 1976 Volker Stricek and Victor Villa leased and began to operate Cook’s Corner. Stricek owned motorcycle accessory business Cheat’ah Engineering in Santa Ana and soon Cook’s Corner became a gathering place for bikers.
Trabuco Canyon, Orange County
Photographer: John Bare
