Restoration Begins on Vega Theater

The arcade of the old Vega Theater building at Atlantic Avenue and Whittier Boulevard has been torn down, revealing the architectural beauty of the historic building that will be restored in the next few months.

The Golden Gate building complex, which houses the theater building, will become home to an El Gallo Giro restaurant and retail shops, said Robert Hertzberg, corporate counsel for the restaurant chain. The facade and the interior of the theater will be restored.

The complex was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 after a study by Barrio Planners Inc. and The East Los Angeles Community Union identified it and two other theater buildings on Whittier Boulevard as landmarks.

The owner, Nick Angelopoulos, wanted to demolish the buildings in 1990 but met opposition from many people in the community, including merchants and members of Nosotros, the Mexican actors guild, who wanted to preserve the buildings, said Frank Villalobos, president of Barrio Planners.

“The Vega Theater was the first Mexican-owned building east of Indiana (Street),” Villalobos said.

Angelopoulos could not be reached for comment.

The national listing made it difficult for Angelopoulos to demolish the buildings, but the state office that oversees historic landmarks gave the go-ahead to tear down the arcade because it was damaged during the 1987 Whittier earthquake and was considered a threat to the community, Villalobos said.