Long Beach’s Ambitious New Restaurant Is an Art Deco Time Capsule

Long Beach’s next big restaurant could end up being its most ambitious in years, as The Ordinarie hopes to resuscitate a long-dormant Art Deco masterpiece in the heart of downtown.

The Long Beach Post has been tracking the comings and goings of The Ordinarie for a while now, snapping photos and digging into details on the longstanding Promenade space. For years this retro building was the home of Blue Cafe, a legend in Long Beach live music circles. Opened in 1992, the lounge eventually fell by the wayside some 17 years later, leaving a gaping hole along one of Long Beach’s busiest commercial stretches. The gorgeous facade is nestled tightly between Congregation Ale House and Beachwood Brewing, with Dog Haus and Michael’s Downtown Italian Kitchen anchoring the north end of the walkway.

Now the owners of Long Beach’s Auld Dubliner pub are on the block as well. Owners David Copley, Eric Johnson, and Christy Caldwell tell writer Brian Addison that their new restaurant will focus on “exploring the origins of American hospitality,” when towns more commonly had their own tavern to act as a hub of food, drink, and daily life. That means no white tablecloths, but definitely a refined sense of Long Beach hospitality. Mellow live music will also be a big component of the project, a nod to former tenant Blue Cafe.

The Auld Dubliner team is also keen to keep as much of the history property intact as possible, showing off the brickwork inside and those gorgeously severe Art Deco windows. Vintage signage is already up for the project, and construction crews are there working daily. While there’s no official opening date yet, the plan is to reveal the redone restaurant sometime this fall.

The Ordinarie. 210 Promenade, Long Beach, CA.

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