Algemac's Closing

[nichols]

The historic Algemac's Coffee Shop, open since 1937, is closing on Sunday. Please join MODCOM members there for a farewell breakfast THIS Saturday, April 2 at 10 AM. We are working closely with the City of Glendale and the Glendale Historical Society on a preservation solution for the building. Stay tuned to modcom.org and http://www.glendalehistorical.org/ for more information as it develops.

ALGEMAC'S COFFEE SHOP
3673 San Fernando Rd. Glendale, CA

MAP
http://tinyurl.com/3uylw

http://www.glendalehistorical.org/
http://modcom.org/

~title edited by moderatior on 4-2-05 to keep the topic non-non date specific

[tikihula]

We would be there in a New York second, but we'll be on a plane to Oahu for a MidMod photo safari. What an incredible bummer to see another landmark go by the wayside.

[modchick65]

Noooooooooooo...

Please save that building - it looks utterly amazing. In fact, I wish I could help, but I'm stranded here in the sparse MCM state of Pennsylvania...

[deanna b]

By the way, be glad that you met there Saturday, because although they were supposed to be open Sunday as well, they closed a day early. The signs said that they didn't have enough available personnel to work Sunday, and apologized to anyone who had hoped to eat there one last time.

[Lynxwiler]

Could this be the same Algemac's? They look so different.

[nichols]

Yup. That's the same one. In 1937 they were closer to San Fernando and Brand, but they moved to the current location about 1946. The main entrance is in the same place, but they pushed out the east walls and added those diamonds. The rooftop integrated sign was replaced with a pole sign. The oldest part of the interior is the counter service area in the 1946 building pictured in Lynx's card.

[Lynxwiler]

A recent film shoot left some prop signage on the Algemac's facade.

[Lynxwiler]

Sorry news indeed. Algemac's is being gutted as I type this message. I just drove by to see dumpsters out front and the parking lot crowded with chunks of the restaurant's interior, red leatherette booths included.

[nichols]

The Conservancy, ModCom and the Glendale Historical Society have been working with the city and the developers for many months on a salvage compromise. The Algemac's facade will be incorporated into the project. The first 15 feet or so are being retained, it will be moved a few yards down San Fernando Road, a new interior will be constructed, the signage will likely be moved inside, and it becomes a community center. There is a historic consultant monitoring the demolition. Not the ultimate solution, but (in my opinion) better than complete demolition.

[jeffgent]

I'm glad to hear that the are saving part of it, but why bother tearing any of it down now that the housing boom has gone bust? Is the developing planning to continue with project?

[nichols]

The "Vintage" condo project is fully entitled and this is Phase I of construction.

http://www.uhalliance.com/detail.asp?im ... c=0&page=0

[Lynxwiler]

[nichols]

This plan calls for the neon signs to be reinstalled inside the space.

[Lynxwiler]

Both signs?

[Forum Friend]

I'm so glad at least something will be done with this. Thank you Modern Committee for working on it. Gosh, though, I wish it would be a restaurant again. I now live in nearby Atwater Village, and could walk to it.

I'm glad to hear that the are saving part of it, but why bother tearing any of it down now that the housing boom has gone bust? Is the developing planning to continue with project?

I went to the community open house for Glendale's Housing Element Update. The upshot:

The City of Glendale needs 3,131 new housing units for the period of 2006-2014. This does not mean the City of Glendale will build them; it means the City of Glendale must be zoned for the capacity, per state law.

Fortunately, City of Glendale's current zoning can already accommodate this number of new housing units. No revisions of the current zoning are necessary.

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) prepares the Regional Housing Needs Assessment providing this number. The number is broken down into the number of units required for different income categories, etc. SCAG takes into consideration lots of data in order to come up with the numbers, and the City of Glendale has accepted the needs assessment they've been given.

[nichols]

This morning I drove by Algemac's and saw the diamond canopy being moved onto a flatbed truck. It's going into storage during construction.

[nichols]

(photo by Alan Leib)

[Lynxwiler]

I hope its twin neon "Coffee Shop" signs went into storage with it. I know the developer said the neon would be reused in the new development, but I always have my suspicions.

[deanna b]

Empty lot now.

[Lynxwiler]

[nichols]

The salvaged portion of the building has now been grafted onto the new construction.

[Skylark]

Couldn't those booths have been salvaged as well?

Like modchick65, I feel so helpless in faraway PA.

[FinFan]

a romboidal composition of 2 folded rooftops, how clever design
Love the fact that at least they are re-using it. Have they built it up completely by now ?

[nichols]