Du-par’s Restaurant and Bakery at the Farmers Market is open for patio dining and take-out, as well as the new carhop service. (photo courtesy of Frances Tario)

Take a trip back in time with Du-par’s, which is offering classic carhop service at its restaurant and bakery at the Original Farmers Market.

Enjoy the signature hotcakes and breakfast dishes as well as burgers, sandwiches, entrees, milkshakes and pie and ice cream for dessert, all from the comfort of your vehicle. Du-par’s is also offering takeout and outdoor dining on its patio while statewide closures are in place on indoor dining. It is bringing back the carhop service to give diners a new option, and to pay tribute to the restaurant’s history.

“The employees are very excited about the carhop service and the customers are very excited about it too,” owner Frances Tario said. “We had a large order last weekend. They asked for it to be delivered to their car and sat and ate in the air conditioning. They were really happy. If people want to eat in their cars, we are all for it.”

The carhop service started informally last week but Tario plans to officially launch it today, July 16. People can park anywhere in the lots at the Original Farmers Market, corner of Third and Fairfax, and place orders by phone. Customers will provide the make and model of their vehicle and their location so Du-par’s employees can personally deliver orders. The restaurant has extended hours until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday so more people can enjoy the carhop service.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Tario added. “Just like the old days.”

Du-par’s first opened at the Original Farmers Market in 1938. Prior to Tario, it was owned by W.W. “Biff” Naylor, son of restaurateur W.W. “Tiny” Naylor, who started the Tiny Naylor’s chain of casual restaurants in 1957 at Wilshire Boulevard and Virgil Avenue. One of Tiny Naylor’s most iconic restaurants was at Sunset Boulevard and La Brea Avenue, where the classic carhop service was a mainstay until the restaurant closed and was demolished in 1984.

Tiny Naylor’s at Sunset and La Brea was famous for its carhop service. The owner’s son, Biff Naylor, later owned Du-par’s, which is bringing back carhop service. Du-par’s waiter Cesar Len has worked for both restaurants and provided this photograph from Tiny Naylor’s in Hollywood, circa the late 1970s. (photo courtesy of Cesar Len)

Du-par’s waiter Cesar Len, who started with Tiny Naylor’s in 1978 after graduating from Hollywood High School and worked for the chain until 1993, currently works at Du-par’s at the Farmers Market. He said bringing back the carhop service is a perfect way to pay tribute to Southern California culture and the casual restaurants of yesteryear.

“It’s bringing back a way to experience how things were back then,” added Len, whose first job was as a fountain clerk at the Tiny Naylor’s at Sunset and La Brea. “The fountain clerk was behind the counter supporting the carhop servers, who passed the food along to the cars. I’d make banana splits and milkshakes and malts. Back then, there used to be syrups that were added to the sodas for flavor.”

He later worked as a carhop serving customers.

“I loved it because I like to talk to people and make jokes,” Len said. “It was a lot of fun interacting with people.”

Len said working for the Naylors and Tario has been very rewarding, and he is looking forward to the success of the new carhop service. Tario cited longtime employees like Len, Luis Montes, Pedro Armenta and Sopit Somboongun, each who has been with Du-par’s for more than 20 years, as being integral to the restaurant’s success. She also thanked customers who have supported Du-par’s over the decades, and invited them to experience the restaurant and bakery in a whole new way.

“It’s perfect for families or a date night,” Tario added. “The carhop service is the perfect experience during summer.”