Sign at Zucky’s to be preserved
DOWNTOWN — A deli once renowned as a frequent stop for celebrities and politicos alike will be transformed into a retail store.
Plans to remodel the long-defunct Zucky’s building are currently underway. Construction began this week to make the site more accommodating for retailers.
Large portions of the interior are being cleared out, a storage room is being added, and restrooms are being updated and improved, according to site plans.
John Watkins, familiar with the project, said there are several retailers interested in the site, but so far, a tenant hasn’t been secured.
Located at 431 Wilshire Boulevard, Zucky’s restaurant and coffeehouse was once a Santa Monica staple, a well known 24-hour hangout where residents might spot a local politician or visiting celebrity at any hour of the day. Built in 1954, the building is classified as “Googie” — a style of architecture typified by characteristics such as the use of Palos Verdes stone, bold-colored ceramic tile and an expansive use of plate glass walls.
Zucky’s closed its doors in 1993 and has since remained vacant. And according to city planner Marika Modugno, the building has not been consistently maintained and is the source of many resident complaints. Modugno contends it’s been getting worse with each passing year.
One portion of the site that will be saved is the sign. In March, the city’s landmark commission designated the Zucky’s sign a historical landmark which can’t be removed.
While the building has remained empty and dilapidated, the debate over what should be done with the one-time hot spot was renewed early this year, when the building’s owners went in front of the Architectural Review Board (ARB) seeking permission to remodel its façade in order to bring new tenants into the space.
However, the building’s owners — Carey Testamentary Trust — were met with opposition the Los Angeles Conservancy, a historic preservation group.
The conservancy opposed modifications to the building, referring to Zucky’s as a cultural icon and one of the last remaining examples of post-war coffee-shop architecture in the city.
The ARB ordered the two groups to work together, and the parties have since reached a consensus.
Nina Fresco — with the landmarks commission, the preservationist body which reviewed the re-development plans —felt the agreement between the conservancy and the building’s owners ensured that the “character-defining elements” of the building, such as its signature tile, would be protected. As a result of their agreement, the commission did not feel it was necessary to pursue landmarking the entire building, said Fresco.
The preservation of the sign was a compromise between the owners and preservationists, and the landmark commission voted in favor of preserving it in March.
City Councilman Kevin McKeown, a liaison to the landmarks commission, spoke on behalf of landmarking the sign and agreed with the commission’s ultimate decision, noting the sign is what most people recognize when looking at the building.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 9, 2005. Read the original PDF.