Repairs, relocation planned for Bono’s Historic Orange in Fontana

The Bono’s Historic Orange stand that once stood along Route 66 in Fontana, California, will be renovated and moved elsewhere in the city.

According to a Facebook post by Beth Murray of the California Historic Route 66 Association, the 7-foot-tall orange-juice stand, built in 1936 by Bob DeVries, was placed in storage by the Fontana Historical Society and stands in the city’s public works lot.

Murray wrote: “The new designated spot for the Orange Stand most likely will be in the Vicinity of Miller Park or the Fontana Lewis Library about 2-3 blocks off of Route 66.”

She stated the wood in the orange stand had declined due to age and that graffiti taggers had targeted it. The historical society plans to restore it without the Bono’s name.

After being closed for almost 15 years, Bono’s Italian Restaurant where the orange stand once stood reopened as another Italian restaurant in 2018.

However, that eatery didn’t survive the COVID-19 pandemic, and it eventually will be taken over by a Mexican restaurant.

The orange originally was located three miles to the east; restaurant owner Joe Bono purchased the stand in the 1990s and moved it to his business.

According to Wikipedia, it is one of six surviving orange-shaped buildings in California.

(Image of the Bono’s Historic Orange in Fontana, California, courtesy of Wikipedia)