Lomeli's - Gardena, CA

Carlo Lomeli, founder of Lomeli's Italian Restaurant, started his restaurant career in 1968, at age 14. In 1978, Carlo bought Big Joe's Italian Restaurant and in 1979, he changed the name to Lomeli's Italian Restaurant.

He celebrated the name change and the first anniversary by giving his customers a 50% discount on all dine-in bills between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. This has become a tradition which is celebrated every year, usually the second Tuesday of January each year.