LA City Council Delays Vote to Designate Taix Restaurant as an Historic Monument

The struggle over the future of Taix — Echo Park’s enduring old-school French restaurant and bar — reached a new stage this week. On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council’s delayed a vote to add the restaurant to the city’s historic-cultural monuments program. What’s at stake is the demolishment of the nearly 60-year-old building and replacing it with a brand new retail and residential structure.

The Eastsider reports that Taix’s landmark nomination was recently modified to preserve two outdoor signs and the interior’s wooden bar top. That doesn’t include the actual building, which owner Mike Taix sold to a developer three years ago. The former owner does not want the landmark status. It’s unclear what councilmember Mitch O’Farrell hopes to accomplish by delaying the vote until June 2.

Throughout this entire battle, debates emerged over the building’s preservation, from the cultural heritage commission to longtime residents. Patch reports that Taix told the commission in December that the building is inefficient and outdated, factors that worsened during the pandemic.

In other news:

• Chef Jeremy McBride will open a third Comfort LA location in Carson across the street from the Dignity Health Sports Park stadium on Juneteenth.
• Fine cheese and regional American restaurant Agnes will officially open on June 1, right next to Rocco’s and Crack Shack in Pasadena.

• Until May 31, the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown and rooftop restaurant and bar Spire 73 will raise money and awareness for national nonprofit Stop AAPI Hate.
• The US Bank Tower is getting a $60 million makeover, while permanently removing the outdoor slide, writes the Los Angeles Times.
• Los Angeles sports stadium have a whole new set of rules for attendance. Dodger Stadium now has a vaccinated section for attendees who have received both doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. LAist has the full details.
• The West Covina city council votes to officially create its own health department, reports the Pasadena Star News.
• Japanese fried chicken expert Pikunico and ceramics studio Still Life Ceramics at ROW DTLA partnered to raise money for India’s COVID-19 surge. From May 22 to June 5, participants start at Still Life Ceramics can purchase their $29 bowl and take it over to Pikunico and receive a filling of egg drop soup. Proceeds will be donated GiveIndia.
• Olly’s Soft Pretzels has a limited edition item for pickup this weekend. It’s a pretzel nod to a scallion pancake with Fly by Jing Chili Crisp & Zhong sauce. Order via their website.

• Echo Park’s Taix Restaurant is poised to become a historic landmark — but that won’t save the building [Eastsider]