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October 2006
Claremont Village Grows Up
The expansion of the Village west of Indian Hill Boulevard will bring
new shops, eateries and an art-house movie theatre near The Claremont
Colleges next year. |
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Story and photos by Kevin McPhee '07
You've seen the frameworks of buildings rise along the west side of
Indian Hill Boulevard. The long-awaited
expansion of the Claremont
Village is well underway, with new shops, eateries, a movie theater and
a hotel expected to open next year.
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The Village Expansion west of Indian Hill Boulevard
is set to open next year. |
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First up: Arteco Partners is looking to unveil the refashioned
Claremont
Packing House, on First Street along the southernmost edge of the
expansion, in early 2007, according to Chris Veirs of Claremont's
Economic Development Department. Earlier plans had the Packing House opening in
October, but a fire on the
roof in August set construction back several weeks, although it caused
only cosmetic damage.
This renovation of the 1922 College Heights Lemon Packing House will be
home to restaurants and shops, including a steakhouse offering fine
dining and a unique “river” bar; a jazz lounge, modeled after a classic
New York loft and featuring live music; and a Mediterranean restaurant complete with live music and belly dance performances. The second
floor of the packing house, comprised of live-work lofts, will open at
the same time.
Also on First Street, near the intersection with Indian Hill, will be a
new 477-space parking structure, which is expected to open by the end of
this year.
In addition to the packing house project, the Village Expansion brings
an additional 125,000 square feet of new construction north of First and
west of Indian Hill, in a project overseen by the Tolkin Group. Among
the incoming retail outlets are a number of clothing shops, including
American Apparel, as well as a shoe store and a boutique specializing in
fine papers and stationery. These stores are expected to open in late
spring or early summer 2007. A sushi restaurant, a bistro, an
ice cream shop, and several other eateries, including California Pizza
Kitchen ASAP (a smaller, faster version of the popular chain) are part
of the same development and are due to open during the same time frame.
This 1922 lemon packing house is
undergoing a massive renovation to house
shops, restaurants and live/work lofts. |
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The expansion will also feature a boutique hotel in the form of a
28-room Four Sisters Inn, which is expected to appeal to visitors to The
Claremont Colleges. One of the most anticipated projects in the expansion
is the Laemmle Theatres, with five screens and 850 seats, offering a
movie selection that will highlight independent and foreign films. Both
the hotel and theatre are projected to open in mid-2007.
Claremont's existing Village, sandwiched between Indian Hill Boulevard
and The Claremont Colleges, has long been a regional draw with its
charming mix of quality restaurants and shops in a quaint, historic
setting. Planning for the expansion dates back more than a decade when
the city began acquiring land in the area west of Indian Hill between
the railroad and Bonita Avenue – which until the 1970s was a hub of
citrus farming.
The expansion goes beyond new businesses. At its center will be a plaza
with public art, fountains and performance space.
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