The Aztec is amazing relic with a colorful history. Kathy Reece-McNeil has put a lot of energy into researching and restoring the place to its original form.
If you haven't been inside she has gotten a lot done in there the last few months. Even the old Coffee Shop (whose original stained glass windows have been recently discovered and uncovered) will eventually be brought back to how it looked when it was brand new some 60+ years ago.
I've been to a few functions with the Monrovia Art Festival Association, which Kathy supports and helps out by donating front space for its gallery, and found it a really nice place to be. The big surprise was the quality of the food and service there.
I've had the pleasure of being allowed to roam about in there photographing it and it just an amazing place to shoot. Wrote and posted it on my blog here : http://frazgomeanders.blogspot.com/2006/09/restoring-history-original-intent-of.html
Her business (the bar) has been a nightmare for the residents living around there since she bought the place. I should know, I used to live there. In fact, a large reason why we moved was because of the bar. I had drunks breaking glass bottles in my driveway and urinating on my lawn constantly, as well as fighting - at all hours of the night! It was horrible. And Ms. Reece-McNeil was not pleasant to deal with. Additionally, can those awful colors possibly be historically correct? That purple is hideous!
The bar is gone, that was a problem long before the current owner took over and started the rehab. Give her credit to try and turn around the business and turn it into something that is a positive for the city.
Also, fyi the color scheme is historically correct, based on photos and descriptions from when it was first opened.
The Mayan is a the bar being morphed into a restaurant/grill set up with real white table linens. So far a couple of people I know have gone and the food was good, I just haven't had the time to check it out beyond looking at the redo. I understand some sort of grand reopening is being planned for when the Coffee Shop is done.
It's a bar and many low-lifes have hung out there for years. There have been shootings, fights and drug use forever. I don't blame Kathy for all that but a reputation is a reputation.
My father-in-law painted the hotel back in the 60's I think, I like it's look and the foods never been too bad.
As for the appearance of the Aztec-- ugly color is ugly color.Well, it might get first time drive-by looks, and that will be good for the owner.As to staying true to the original-- what if the original motif had featured naked green clowns cavorting??
The Aztec is a better place today than it was ten years ago. May be some would like the druggies and the paroled sex offenders that the state use to house there to return ? Kathy has really cleaned the place up. But there is some truth that some want to see her fail and lose the place. The city and the police have been going out of the way targeting the Aztec. Why ? Who could be behind all of this ? All you have to do is look across the street from the Aztec. Bowden Development has a hard on for the Aztec. We all know who Bowden Development is in Monrovia. They are the people who tare down an old house in Monrovia and build six homes on one lot. I think Bowden wants to build 12 homes where the Aztec parking lot is today. In Monrovia, what Bowden wants, he usually gets with a little help from the city. The Aztec Hotel and the bar is better run today than any other time going back to the 60's. I guess some for get when the Aztec was full of junkies and prostitutes. May be some of the neighbors miss that marijuana smell that use to come from the Aztecday and night. Today the Aztec is a fun place. Thank you Kathy for cleaning up the Aztec and restoring the building the way it was in the 1920's.
12 Comments:
The Aztec is amazing relic with a colorful history. Kathy Reece-McNeil has put a lot of energy into researching and restoring the place to its original form.
If you haven't been inside she has gotten a lot done in there the last few months. Even the old Coffee Shop (whose original stained glass windows have been recently discovered and uncovered) will eventually be brought back to how it looked when it was brand new some 60+ years ago.
I've been to a few functions with the Monrovia Art Festival Association, which Kathy supports and helps out by donating front space for its gallery, and found it a really nice place to be. The big surprise was the quality of the food and service there.
I've had the pleasure of being allowed to roam about in there photographing it and it just an amazing place to shoot. Wrote and posted it on my blog here : http://frazgomeanders.blogspot.com/2006/09/restoring-history-original-intent-of.html
11:38 AM
Her business (the bar) has been a nightmare for the residents living around there since she bought the place. I should know, I used to live there. In fact, a large reason why we moved was because of the bar. I had drunks breaking glass bottles in my driveway and urinating on my lawn constantly, as well as fighting - at all hours of the night! It was horrible. And Ms. Reece-McNeil was not pleasant to deal with.
Additionally, can those awful colors possibly be historically correct? That purple is hideous!
8:37 PM
The bar is gone, that was a problem long before the current owner took over and started the rehab. Give her credit to try and turn around the business and turn it into something that is a positive for the city.
Also, fyi the color scheme is historically correct, based on photos and descriptions from when it was first opened.
10:33 AM
The bar is gone? So what is the Mayan?
10:10 PM
The Mayan is a the bar being morphed into a restaurant/grill set up with real white table linens. So far a couple of people I know have gone and the food was good, I just haven't had the time to check it out beyond looking at the redo. I understand some sort of grand reopening is being planned for when the Coffee Shop is done.
7:07 AM
It was written up in the Star News as a bar and grill. I know one person who went and said the food was not worth going back.
3:12 PM
oh dear, that's unfortunate. I remember the food at the Brass Elephant was not too bad, but they weren't trying for upscale, either.
3:20 PM
As I was driving by tonight, the sign said The Mayan BAR and Grill and there were two bouncer types outside. It sure looked like a bar!
10:44 PM
It's a bar and many low-lifes have hung out there for years. There have been shootings, fights and drug use forever. I don't blame Kathy for all that but a reputation is a reputation.
My father-in-law painted the hotel back in the 60's I think, I like it's look and the foods never been too bad.
Local Boy
10:02 AM
Yes, it is still a bar.It seems to be populated with their old crowd of regulars.
1:47 PM
As for the appearance of the Aztec-- ugly color is ugly color.Well, it might get first time drive-by looks, and that will be good for the owner.As to staying true to the original-- what if the original motif had featured naked green clowns cavorting??
1:52 PM
The Aztec is a better place today than it was ten years ago. May be some would like the druggies and the paroled sex offenders that the state use to house there to return ? Kathy has really cleaned the place up. But there is some truth that some want to see her fail and lose the place. The city and the police have been going out of the way targeting the Aztec. Why ? Who could be behind all of this ? All you have to do is look across the street from the Aztec. Bowden Development has a hard on for the Aztec. We all know who Bowden Development is in Monrovia. They are the people who tare down an old house in Monrovia and build six homes on one lot. I think Bowden wants to build 12 homes where the Aztec parking lot is today. In Monrovia, what Bowden wants, he usually gets with a little help from the city. The Aztec Hotel and the bar is better run today than any other time going back to the 60's. I guess some for get when the Aztec was full of junkies and prostitutes. May be some of the neighbors miss that marijuana smell that use to come from the Aztecday and night. Today the Aztec is a fun place. Thank you Kathy for cleaning up the Aztec and restoring the building the way it was in the 1920's.
9:59 PM
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