A new lease on life for Zucky’s
WILSHIRE BLVD With the simple stroke of a pen, Wolfine “Zucky” Altman connected the past with the present, becoming the first person to open an account with First Republic Bank, the business that now occupies the space where she and her husband Hy operated Zucky’s Deli, a fixture in downtown before it closed in the mid ‘90s.
“It definitely brings back a lot of memories,” Altman said as she looked around the bank, which worked with City Hall to preserve the rock and brick facade and the Zucky’s sign that sits prominently over Wilshire Boulevard. The facade and the sign are city landmarks.
“I think they did a fabulous job,” said Altman, who also founded SOVA (Hebrew for “to eat and be satisfied”), a free kosher food pantry program that provides free groceries and supportive services for people in need. “It’s homey, but still business like. It’s really first class.”
The Zucky’s location is First Republic’s lone branch in Santa Monica. Customers can open checking and savings accounts, apply for personal loans and manage trusts and investments, said Greg Berardi, a spokesman for the bank.
“It’s just a wonderful location and we are so thrilled to be in Zucky’s place,” Berardi said. “Our clients are pleased that we came here. We have many Santa Monica customers who have fond memories of Zucky’s. After a long absence, this kind of feels like a home coming.”
“Zucky” — IT DEFINITELY BRINGS BACK A LOT OF MEMORIES.” Wolfine Altman, Former owner of Zucky’s
Zucky’s, which was constructed in 1954, was influenced by the Googie style of post-World War II commercial architecture, taking advantage of its corner location with a combination of deep, overlapping, angled canopies and floor-to-ceiling plate glass walls.
First Republic kept the canopies and the natural rock, stucco and glazed tile accents, ensuring that the Googie style would be retained.
Designer Habibou Sissoko said the challenge with this adaptive-reuse was protecting the stone facade, the large windows and tiles.
“It forced us to be creative,” said Habibou, who was approached by a couple during the renovation who had their first date at Zucky’s. “Luckily for us the building was in great shape. The more we worked on it, the more I fell in love with it. It’s one building that now has two lives.”
Altman is pleased that the facade has been retained, especially since she hand picked every stone and watched as they were put in place.
“It feels good to know that people will be coming to this bank and will see the sign and ask about what used to be here,” she said. “It’s funny. Everyone jokes that now I’m a banker.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 12, 2008. Read the original PDF.