If they do turn that area into a Lounge I hope they keep the Spanish-Deco theme in the design and even restore the ticket windows to what they would have looked like during the Halcyon days, complete with signage, timetables and such. Of course that would make them into more of a museum and a well designed barrier would be needed to keep them protected. That station is far too classic to be modernized.I didn't know "Union Bagel" closed.
I hope the Fred Harvey restaurant of even the old ticketing concourse could be made into a Metropolitan Lounge! But if the old ticketing concourse is indeed used as a ML, I would hope they could preserve and/or incorporate the ticketing windows into the design of the ML!
From an earlier thread it appears that the new Metropolitan Lounge will be constructed will be built in a "less inspired" area of Union Station.I hope the Fred Harvey restaurant of even the old ticketing concourse could be made into a Metropolitan Lounge! But if the old ticketing concourse is indeed used as a ML, I would hope they could preserve and/or incorporate the ticketing windows into the design of the ML!
It appears that the kitchen still works as I saw a party/banquet being prepared (with some cooking) in there about a year ago.[snip]
LA Metro has been searching for a new full-time operator to take over the Harvey House restaurant since at least the beginning of this year but it will take someone special to make it work. From my understanding the new operator will need to have deep pockets because kitchen needs a complete remodel (if there is even still a kitchen) Metro also wants someone who is already a local restaurant operator and not another chain (as evidenced by this latest report.)
[snip]
I talked awhile ago with someone who is familiar with the status of the Harvey House and brought up the same thing, that food was being prepared for events there. He said they can't use the existing facilities, per se, but caterers can and do bring their own equipment into the old kitchen to cook for events. The kitchen space is apparently huge, but any remaining old equipment pretty much has to be replaced and the kitchen remodeled to meet current standards for a permanent restaurant. It was built in 1939 and has been closed as an operating restaurant since 1967 or 68.It appears that the kitchen still works as I saw a party/banquet being prepared (with some cooking) in there about a year ago.[snip]
LA Metro has been searching for a new full-time operator to take over the Harvey House restaurant since at least the beginning of this year but it will take someone special to make it work. From my understanding the new operator will need to have deep pockets because kitchen needs a complete remodel (if there is even still a kitchen) Metro also wants someone who is already a local restaurant operator and not another chain (as evidenced by this latest report.)
[snip]
Completely agree with that. Up until recently the hold up really was the former owner, Catellus (the corporate decendent of the Santa Fe Land company, who got the other two RR's interest in the station in a long story). Catellus didn't seem to want to put anyone in the Harvey House, or the Ticket Concourse for that matter. Since the acquisition of the station by Metro fairly recently, things have been moving.I've seen first time restaurant operators secure surprisingly large loans for commercial kitchen hardware.
An experienced operator should have little or no problem securing financing for a new kitchen if the business plan adds up.
Kind of unrelated, but there was a restaurant in Old Sacramento across from the California State Railroad Museum that apprpriated the "Harvey House" name. They weren't around long, but I remember seeing the servers on their outside seating in their "Harvey Girl" uniforms. I visit the Railroad Museum quite often (kid absolutely loves the place) and once saw a special Groupon-like deal on the Sacramento Bee website. They also had deals via Living Social. I actually missed buying it, but the restaurant went belly up within months.I talked awhile ago with someone who is familiar with the status of the Harvey House and brought up the same thing, that food was being prepared for events there. He said they can't use the existing facilities, per se, but caterers can and do bring their own equipment into the old kitchen to cook for events. The kitchen space is apparently huge, but any remaining old equipment pretty much has to be replaced and the kitchen remodeled to meet current standards for a permanent restaurant. It was built in 1939 and has been closed as an operating restaurant since 1967 or 68.It appears that the kitchen still works as I saw a party/banquet being prepared (with some cooking) in there about a year ago.[snip]
LA Metro has been searching for a new full-time operator to take over the Harvey House restaurant since at least the beginning of this year but it will take someone special to make it work. From my understanding the new operator will need to have deep pockets because kitchen needs a complete remodel (if there is even still a kitchen) Metro also wants someone who is already a local restaurant operator and not another chain (as evidenced by this latest report.)
[snip]
Pretty sure they'll be able to deal with the situation.OMG, What is the movie industry going to do? LAUS was/is used almost weekly in some movie or commercial,
I know Mary Colter's work at the Grand Canyon South Rim, including the Desert View Watchtower, Hermit's Rest, Hopi House, and Bright Angel Lodge and Cabins.The L.A. Conservancy has periodic tours of Union Station -- well worth taking. Among the highlights of the tour are visiting the restrooms in both the Harvey House and the ticketing area, and the bar/lounge in the Harvey House. Amazing art deco.
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