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Santa Monica's Famous Dive Chez Jay Gets Landmark Status
Santa Monica's Chez Jay in its earlier years (Photo via Vintage Los Angeles on Facebook)
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Chez Jay, a dive-y dining institution in Santa Monica, has been granted landmark status, and will remain standing.
Considered the inspiration for the fictional Regal Beagle from TV's "Three's Company" (set in Santa Monica), Chez Jay has looked pretty much exactly the same since it was built in 1959.
A Cook's California blog gives some background:
“Why mess with perfection?” was the justification given by owner and founder Jay Fiondella. He kept his place celebrity-friendly…no cameras, no autographs, just stiff drinks and good food. His bar hosted his friends: Frank Sinatra and Cher, Clint Eastwood and Marlon Brando whose faded pictures hang on the walls. It still attracts a cast of beach bums, agents, local mis-fits and celebrities.
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Fiondella died in 2008, and earlier this year, things began to look dire for the dive. "City officials had said earlier this year that the current Chez Jay building and the dimly lit, windowless bar would have to be redesigned to be more compatible with the Palisades Garden Walk next door," explains L.A. Now.
A Facebook page, "Save Chez Jay" was set up as part of the preservation effort. Today they announced: "Success!!!! Thanks to everyone who supports Chez Jay! The Landmarks Commission has agreed unanimously to grant Chez Jay landmark status!!!!!!!"
The vote was 6-0, and came after many people came forward during the Santa Monica Landmarks Commission meeting to speak about Chez Jay. Others gave their support from afar: "Among those who wrote letters of support for the landmark designation were Renee Zellweger and Kiefer Sutherland."
However, just because the building is a landmark doesn't mean the restaurant will still be able to continue serving up their La Jolla potatoes and steaks to diners whose tables rest on peanut-shell covered floors. From L.A. Now:
Carol Lemlein, president of the Santa Monica Conservancy, said landmark status does not define use of the property and therefore could not ensure that the current operation of Chez Jay would continue.
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