Bill Binder

Background

Bill Binder was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on February 28, 1915. His father, a brewer for the Miller Brewing Company, graduated from the Wahl-Henius Brewing Institute in Chicago.

Education

Binder graduated from Calexico High School in 1933.

Career

Philippe"s, a mjor destination for locals and tourists, is famous for its French dip sandwiches, which are said to have been invented at Philippe"s, and sawdust covered floors. He moved with his family from their home in Chicago to southern California. He enlisted in the United States Marines during World World War II in 1941.

He was honorably discharged as a captain in the Marines in 1945, but remained in the United States Marine Corps Reserve until 1951, when he retired with the rank of Major.

Philippe"s

Bill and Beverly had met at Frank"s Place, a cafe owned by her father, located directly across the street from the Eastside Brewery, where Binder worked at the time. The couple moved from California to Hancock, Michigan, after their wedding, where Binder worked as a brewer.

However, after just a few months in Michigan they returned to Los Los Angeles Binder owned and operated a coffee shop in Los Los Angeles

After several years, Binder began working with his father-in-law at Philippe"s following the death of Harry Martin.

The family was forced to leave Philippe"s original location on Aliso Street due to the construction of the Hollywood Freeway. They reopened Philippe"s at its present location on Alameda Street near Olvera Street and Union Station in 1951. David Martin persuaded Binder to run Philippe"s at its new location.

Binder kept the restaurant"s menu virtually the same, focusing on its famous French dip sandwiches, which uses roast beef, ham, roast pork, lamb or turkey on a French roll, dipped in au jus.

Later life

The brothers added new menu items, such as salads and turkey sandwiches, after Binder"s retirement, though he continued to eat breakfast at Philippe"s frequently. Bill Binder died at a nursing facility in Pasadena, California, on January 28, 2010, at the age of 96.

Achievements

• Her father, David Martin, and uncle, Harry Martin, had purchased Philippe"s restaurant in Los Angeles from its founder and original owner, Philippe Mathieu, in 1927.