With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
Westlake’s Pacific Dining Car Restaurant Recommended As Historic Monument
The Pacific Dining Car, circa 1935.
(
Courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection
)
The Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission has recommended that the City Council vote to designate the original Pacific Dining Car as an historic-cultural monument.
The steakhouse, just west of downtown, was designed like a railroad dining car. It was opened in 1921 by Fred and Grace Cook, who built the car in a friend’s backyard on 7th Street and Westlake Avenue. A second location in Santa Monica opened in 1990, but both storefronts closed in 2020 due to the pandemic.
The original location was famous for late-night meals because of its 24-hour service. It was also used as a filming location for movies and TV shows, including Training Day and Shameless.
Support for LAist comes from
Andrew Goodrich, a senior associate with Architectural Resources Group, which submitted the historic monument recommendation, said Pacific Dining Car is a “stalwart” of the Westlake community, and of the city as a whole.
“This is a place that weathered the Depression and World War, changing demographics of the neighborhood, mass inflation of the 1970s and other challenges, and in spite of all of this, the restaurant remained, as it always had been in its original location since 1923,” Goodrich said.
Most items within the historic dining car were sold at auction. Owners did say at the time that the restaurant would not go away entirely, and it shifted to online sales of its steaks.
“We are deeply grateful for the over 70 people who showed up at the CHC meeting, and for those who spoke and emailed to express their support,” Pacific Dining Car’s Instagram said. “We’re excited that progress is being made towards preservation of our family’s legacy.”
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The historic properties have been sitting vacant for decades and were put on the market as-is, with prices ranging from $750,000 to $1.75 million. -
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high. -
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol.
Best of LAist