Business & Tech
Venice's Groundwork Cafe take's Over NoHo's Historic Lankershim Depot
Venice's Groundwork Cafe has opened a location in North Hollywood's Lankershim Depot, an 1890s Pacific Electric Red Car line station.
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA — A window at the Lankershim Depot that issued its last ticket in 1952 for passengers on the Pacific Electric Red Car line has begun serving organic coffee Friday for Metro commuters and other visitors to the NoHo Arts District.
The depot, which was built in the 1890s and is a registered California Historic Landmark, received a $3.6 million renovation that was completed by Metro in 2014, and is now home to the Groundwork Cafe.
The cafe will be operated by the Groundwork Coffee Co., which was founded in Venice Beach in 1990 and has a location several blocks away from the depot.
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"Metro is proud to partner with Groundwork, a longstanding member of the North Hollywood community, to be the signature tenant for Lankershim Depot," Metro Board chair and Duarte City Council member John Fasana said. "They have literally breathed new life into the depot for the benefit of all our San Fernando Valley transit customers."
The depot was upgraded by general contractor Wade Robinson, who specializes in the restoration of older buildings and also did the renovation of North Hollywood's Idle Hour Cafe.
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"The Lankershim Depot is a symbol of the San Fernando Valley's transit history and its bright future," said Councilman Paul Krekorian, whose district includes North Hollywood.
"This wonderful restoration led by Metro allows the depot to serve as a hub for commuters and, with local roaster Groundwork Coffee now open inside, a draw for consumers as well. North Hollywood's continuing resurgence goes hand in hand with the transit revolution that is transforming so many neighborhoods like this across the Valley and throughout L.A. County."
The original depot building was used as part of the Pacific Electric Red Car line, which operated from 1911 to 1952.
It is the San Fernando Valley's oldest unmodified railroad structure.
"A window that once provided access to a ticket booth will now allow commuters to grab coffee and baked goods on the go. A room where commuters used to wait for a train will now be part of the indoor/outdoor seating area for dining," Metro said of the new cafe.
The depot and cafe are located at 11275 Chandler Blvd.
City News Service; Photo: Junkyardsparkle, Public Domain
