union restaurant details released: historic setting, upscale fare
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Restaurateur John Valencia is bringing The Union Restaurant & Lounge to the ground floor of the Union Lofts. The upscale eatery was announced last year, but details have remained scarce until now.
Valencia, who has 18 years of experience in the restaurant supply and nightclub industries, has been a silent partner in several previous ventures and is helming the new 10,000 square-foot fine-dining establishment. Construction begins soon and is expected to wrap in time for a late spring or early summer opening, according to Lisa Elia, publicist for the Valencia Group.
Along with the Union Lofts under construction above the restaurant, Killefer Flammang Architects is handling the interior design of the historic dining space. The former bank building’s lavish 1920s Art Deco lobby is being restored and will accommodate 200 seated patrons with patio seating. Live entertainment and signature cocktails will complete the scene.
Head Chef Jeffrey Nimer, of Miami Beach’s Baleen, Yuca and the Blue Door — as well as a stint as David Geffen’s private chef — is in the process of preparing the restaurant’s menu. Previous ventures have featured French fare with Latin/Caribbean influences, but it remains to be seen what’s in store for Downtown.
As with many other former bank buildings, Valencia has hopped onto the latest trend to hit Downtown: The underground vault is being converted into a classy lounge. The repurposed subterranean drinkery will be known as The Vault Bar & Lounge, with late-night hours planned Thursday through Saturday until 2am.
Though the now-desolate 8th Street is devoid of much activity after dark, this location will benefit from new residential projects opening in all directions as well as its proximity to the active Orpheum Theatre.
Valencia is optimistic about Downtown’s revival. The Union is a homecoming of sorts for the Los Angeles native after years in Miami, and several other projects of his are lined up in Downtown. He’s remaining mum on further details for now.
The Union Restaurant & Lounge
760 S Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014
theunionrestaurantlounge.com
Planned Hours: 11:30am to 11pm, 7 days a week
Coming late spring/early summer 2008
-union lofts: lighting done right
-union lofts blade sign complete
18 comments
LOOKS GREAT !!! BEST OF LUCK
Rico I think i have read you say that you live at Mosaic by Union Station. Have you ever tried Traxx restaurant in Union Station, if so how is it ? The reason I ask is because recently I had someone recommend it to me, and I was surprised that I had actually never heard of it, or read anyone write about it, even though I pass through Union station frequently.
I am quite ashamed to say that I have never been! I’ve heard good things about it, though nothing stellar. They have an amazing patio. There’s also Traxx Bar across the hallway.
Wow! I always thought the Madison on Pine St. in Long Beach was one of the most beautiful restaurants (also a former bank). This looks incredible. I can’t wait. The Chapman, Golden Gopher, Colori Kitchen will have a great new neighbor on 8th!
i do believe i’m in love with the developer of the union lofts…
I haven’t been recently to Traxx, but I see more tables taking over space in the concourse. So I assume the restauant is thriving. I recall the service was efficient and understated. The food was well-prepared and delicious. Dessert, in particular, stands out. Yes, the patio is divine on a warm evening as the sun sets. I look forward to Rico’s comments after his inaugeral visit.
I used to have an account at the old Union Bank at 8th and Hill. Before there were atm’s no less. You had to stand in line to get cash and it wasn’t easy. Eventhough you were recognized as a old customer you still had to produce valid i.d. etc before you were given your own cash. It was an ordeal of sorts. While twitling your thumbs you could gaze at the magnificent coffered ceiling and the stately pillars. It was an event then. Now all spiffed up and glamorized, this look like one of the places to be when the new restaurant opens up.
The bank was founded by the Volk family many early L.A. moons ago The family was was very civic and socially prominent up til recent years.
I also had a safe deposit box down below where I gather the old spirits will be driven away by spirits of a higher order. 90 proof anyone ?
May Bacchus regin supreme ! Manny
Sounds good. I hope they get a decent chef and sommerlier. It doesnt have to be super haute, just not a waste of space like Royale on Wilshire.
Also, it will probably open in November. Nothing in this town is on time.
Sorry to be anal about it, but that interior is NOT Art Deco, it is Beaux Arts.
If you were to say “Art Deco ERA decor” it might be technically correct, but even that is stretching things a bit.
The press release from the developer says Art Deco. Since we haven’t seen the space in person, that’s what we went with.
(Agreed it looks Beaux Arts to us.)
Hey all…
Like Scott Mercer, I guess I’m anal on this, too! But since downtown is undergoing such a renewal of interest, I think maybe it’s time we all got on track with the incredible variety of architectural styles in our city. Here’s my way-oversimplified guide, specific to downtown LA, keeping in mind that no one style either began or ended in a specific year and many architects merged styles together (Central Library and Union Station, for example):
Beaux Arts: 1880 - Late 1920s. Boxy, solid, and heavily ornamented with neo-classical columns; balustrades; “Romeo & Juliet balconies;” ornate cornices. Roosevelt, Union Lofts, Biltmore Hotel, Pershing Square Bldg are good examples.
Art Deco: 1925 - Mid 1930s. Strong verticals (piers); stepped set-backs; deeply inset windows; stylized ornamentation with chevrons, zig zags, sunbursts; frequent use of colored terracotta; tower. Columbia Eastern Building, One Bunker Hill, Title Guarantee Lofts, Los Angeles Jewelry Bldg (Sun Realty) are classic examples.
WPA Moderne (Monumental Moderne): Early 1930s - 1940. Strong vertical emphasis remains but with an almost total absence of elaborate ornamentation; emphasis on solidity and strength. LA Times Bldg, the 1936 renovation of the Pacific Mutual Bldg (just south of the Biltmore) and the U.S. Courthouse are good examples.
Streamline Moderne: Mid-1930s - Early 1950s. Emphasis on clean, horizontal lines and rounded corners. Frequent use of glass block, aluminum. “Ocean liner” design cues often evident. The Coca Cola Bottling Plant, Pacific Electric microwave tower (now AT&T), Wilshire Grand Hotel are good downtown examples.
International: Mid-1940s - present. “Boxes” of concrete, steel, or glass (or all of the above) exteriors devoid of ornamentation. Often strong vertical emphasis. One Wilshire, City National Tower (former ARCO), Citigroup Ctr, are examples.
Post-Modern: Mid-1970s - present. Sort of an International “retro” look. Though still a heavy use of concrete, steel and glass exteriors, the look pulls from the past with set-backs; towers; variable colors. USBank Bldg, Gas Company Bldg, Figueroa Tower, Figueroa at Wilshire (former Sanwa) are examples.
Still awake? Here’s a good link to a downtown map, with click-on images of most of the above buildings: http://dcbid.cartifactmaps.com/
traxx is fabulous, i’ve eaten there for years and it hasn’t disappointed me yet. every meal i’ve had there has ranged from terrific to sublime. chef tara cooks genius and she has a fantastic staff in the kitchen and serving. in fact, thanks for reminding me that it’s been a while. i think i’ll call and make a dinner reservation for next week.
Getting back on “track” here…another great thing about eating at Traxx (aside from the outdoor courtyard on a warm evening) is the other outdoor area…within Union Station itself. The station is almost always busy and the parade of passengers going to and from trains makes for great people-watching.
Getting Back on “track” what does the Union station have anything to do with the Union restaurant on 8th & Hill anyway ??
AJ asked if Rico had been there back in #2. Yeah, it is a little confusing.
Yep…
1. ….#2
2. ….both involve something spelled U-N-I-O-N
3. ….both are downtown
4. …. both were built a long time ago
5. ….life is confusing
way off track…i think i know Bruce…if this is the same Bruce who’s studying to be a LAC Docent…he seems to know his architecture.
Spoke with a security guard earlier today, said they just started the build-out for the Union Restaurant & Lounge a few weeks ago. Since there was no kitchen there previously, this could take a while to build. Look for the Union to be ready at the end of the year, at the earliest.
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