This approach to business reflected the owner's Christian ethos—he never turned anyone away hungry and maintained a precedent set by the first restaurant on Olive Street, known as "Clifton's Golden Rule".

In 1946, Clifford and his wife Nelda sold their cafeteria interests to their three younger Clinton children, and retired to devote their attentions to a Meals for Millions, a non-profit charitable organization he founded in the wake of World War II to distribute food to millions of starving and malnourished people throughout the world.

David's son Edmond settled in San Francisco, where he and his wife Gertrude became co-owners of a group of cafeteria-style restaurants named Dennets.

Establishing his restaurants during the height of the Great Depression,[3] and using knowledge gained from working in his family's cafeteria chain in San Francisco,[19] Clinton made a point to never turn anyone away, even if they had no money, seeking to average only a half-cent profit per customer.

[20] During one 90-day period, 10,000 people ate free[20] before he was able to open an emergency "Penny Caveteria" in a basement (hence the modified name)[21] a few blocks away to feed two million patrons during the next two years.

Featured were fountain soft drinks and classic American fare such as roast beef, brisket, meatloaf, and turkey, with a wide assortment of traditional sides.

A novel feature at both places is the bulletin board just outside the entrance, where listings are displayed for employment, barter, sightseeing, and appeals for congenial friendship.

"[21] The cafeteria, at the western terminus of U.S. Route 66, was notable for serving people of all races, and was included in The Negro Motorist Green Book.

[29] In 1960, although the three-story structure with its cascading waterfall facade had become a landmark over the preceding 29 years, the original Clifton's Pacific Seas was closed, the building was razed,[28] and the location turned into a parking lot.

[30] A much smaller version in the form of a side-room bar and named the Pacific Seas resides at their still existing location and pays homage to the original and its history.

[32] With a motto of "Dine Free Unless Delighted",[8] Clifton's second Golden Rule was opened in 1935 when Clifford Clinton purchased the lease of the former Boos Bros. Cafeteria at 648 S Broadway in Los Angeles.

[24][33] Renowned Los Angeles muralist, Einar C. Petersen, created a life size forest on canvas to cover one wall,[24] and a small chapel was set among the crags to fulfill Clifford's desire to feed the soul as well as the body of depression-weary Angelinos.

[36] The restaurant was described as one of the last vestiges of Old Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, with an interior that looks like a "slightly down-at-the-heels Disney version of a twilight forest".

[8] In September 2010, Clifton's Brookdale was sold to nightclub operator Andrew Meieran, who stated that he intends to preserve the food and atmosphere of the establishment.

[11] During renovations, a partition wall was removed, revealing a neon light that was still switched on, apparently having been lit continuously for 77 years.

The Marshall Lakey statue of Christ, which had been placed in storage upon closure of Pacific Seas in 1960, was returned to display when a new Garden was created in the new location.

In 1997, the Silver Spoon location was closed [50] and in 1998 the Lakey statue of Christ was relocated to The Holyland Exhibit in Los Angeles.

[citation needed] In 1987, Clifton's opened a branch in Laguna Hills, California across from the main entrance to Leisure World.

[52] In 1971, Clifton's opens at the Whittier Quad shopping center, offering more than 100 à la carte menu items.

[57] Benji Lanyado of The Guardian lists Clifton's as among LA's top 10 cult locations and notes that it "survives as an astonishing woodland fantasia".

[58] Michael Stern of Roadfood wrote that the surviving location of Clifton's was "an amazing place to eat", with a food line that was "immense", noting that choices included fried chicken with buttermilk biscuits, oxtail stew, turkey and dressing, and side dishes ranging from whipped or fried potatoes to 'cranberry jewel gelatin'.

He wrote that for those with "fond memories of school lunch", Clifton's offers simple fare such as "grilled cheese sandwiches cooked crisp and pressed flat as a pancake".

He remarked that its current location was in a part of Los Angeles that was once fashionable and wrote, "Once you arrive at Clifton's, though, you can feel the magic that used to be".

[59] The restaurant's uniqueness has also found its way into many books and novels, including The Long Embrace,[60] Violin Dreams,[61] Don't spit on my corner,[62] A Few Good Women,[63] Deep Heet!,[64] and Remain Silent,[65] among many others.