When plans to raze Trader Vic’s at the Beverly Hilton came to light in April, local fans of the Polynesian-themed landmark watering hole seemed to heave a collective sigh of disappointment.
And that’s pretty much been the extent of it.
According to Jill Collins, president of the Beverly Hills Historical Society, the missing outrage at losing a bit of local color isn’t uncommon. Only five buildings in the city have historical designations and all of them are city-owned.
Even City Hall, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this week, doesn’t have a listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
“The most we can hope for is some pictures of the old restaurant in the new building,” she said.
Still, it’s not a done deal. The project, which is beginning its environmental impact study this week, will have to go through a public review process. Collins said that if there were objections, they’d likely surface at that point. Beverly Hills City Hall, the Beverly Hills Historical Society and the Beverly Hills Municipal League would seem the groups most likely to get involved or not.
“If people feel passionately about it, they need to read the paper and when notices appear and if it’s of interest to them, they should make themselves known,” she said. “Then maybe there is a chance that something could be done about it.”
The Los Angeles Conservancy is looking at the situation, but spokesperson Jay Platt described the group’s efforts as “very preliminary.”
“There’s a lot of concern about the fact that Trader Vic’s is one of the very last examples of Tiki-style and the Polynesian craze that spread across Southern California in the post-World War II period,” he said.
Platt said the Conservancy is hoping to attract a concerned celebrity following to motivate Beverly Hills residents. So far, actress and commentator Stephanie Powers has signed on. Trader Vic’s had been a noted Hollywood watering hole for decades attracting such luminaries as Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. but in recent times it’s become better known as a tourist attraction featuring $12 Mai Tais.
One of the Conservancy’s suggestions might be to make the existing Trader Vic’s structure part of the proposed luxury condo tower.
“We’re not suggesting that every part of the Beverly Hilton is sacrosanct and can’t be touched,” Platt said. “But Trader Vic’s is still a viable business. Some nights it’s packed.”
Ownership begs to differ. “It hasn’t been a viable business in a long time,” said Marie Garvey, spokesperson for Oasis West Realty LLC, the corporation headed by Beny Alagem that owns the historic hotel. She added there are a number of alternatives still being considered, including opening another Trader Vic’s restaurant somewhere else on the property. The company, she said, is happy to hear the community’s input. But for Oasis West, getting rid of Vic’s is part of a larger self-preservation effort.
“We’ve been part of this community for 50 years,” she said. “We really want to do what’s best for the hotel in the future. It’s an important property and we need to look at the next 50 years and make sure it’s still here and competing.”
Garvey added that most people who say they love Trader Vic’s might stop and think how many years it’s been since they last patronized the establishment.
It’s still early. Trader Vic’s is expected to operate for at least another two years. In another year, Garvey said she too expects to meet with more opposition. “That’s when things start getting real,” she said.
