Valencia Group's Union Restaurant & Lounge Canceled, Trader Vic's Still a Go

The plans were grand for the Valencia Group's 10,000-square-foot Union Restaurant & Lounge in the Union Lofts building at 8th and Hill streets Downtown: retain the building's original design including the gorgeous ceilings and columns, 200 seats plus a patio, lounge in the former underground bank vault, live entertainment, and an incredibly ambitious summer 2008 debut. But according to Angelenic, the entire project has been scrapped. John Valencia simply tells Eater: "Due to unforeseeable delays in the project, we decided to not proceed with it." The developer of that property says they are in negotiations with another restaurant for the space, but details aren't being released yet.

Valencia also confirmed that this in no way affects plans for the proposed Trader Vic's to open somewhere near Nokia and Staples Center next year. While he's still negotiating where the new TV will go, he says they're "working diligently" on the project and expect to open in the spring of 2009.
· Plywood: Union Restaurant & Lounge [~ELA~]
· Valencia Group Backs Out of Union Restaurant Deal [Angelenic]
· Trader Vic's Rebirth: Looking Downtown [~ELA~]