Banquet hall expansion plan in early stage

Great Caesar Banquet Hall, located on the site of the former Rainbow Theatre at 6723 Foothill Blvd., may be gearing up for an expansion and the plans are garnering attention from local civic groups and residents.

According to Cindy Cleghorn of the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Committee, the expansion is in the “budding” stages.

“The owners want to add a 7,000 square foot expansion to increase the entertainment facility. They could potentially use it for ‘adult entertainment’ but they only want to use it for events such as weddings, anniversaries, parties [and such],” said Cleghorn. “What they want to do is have another area for an event so they can be getting that event ready, while another one is in progress. They have been informed that an ‘adult use’ category will not be forthcoming.”

The application is in a very nebulous form at this time. The Los Angeles City Planning Commission was presented only a pencil sketch of the plan, which included no plans for added parking as the owners feel that there is enough parking now with 142 spaces. They have not implemented nor mentioned an EIR (Environmental Impact Report).

Hamlet Deravanessian, owner of Caesar, confirms that the facility wants to expand, adding a non-sectarian chapel to the premises.

“For most Armenians, Persians, and Israelis, there are no churches near here in which they can get married,” Deravanessian explained. “What I would like to do is add a chapel/ceremonial area so that they can perform their weddings and have the receptions all in one place. Now they have to go far away from home for the wedding ceremony and then go to another place for the celebration. This way, they will only have to walk to the reception.”

Adding a chapel won’t require additional parking spaces since the same people will be attending both events.

An existing problem for the banquet hall is day workers who gather in front, sitting on the box planter and huddling in groups. They talk, smoke and jostle each other about while standing on the sidewalk. This presents a problem for neighbors who need to use the sidewalk to get by.

Dervanessian offers some solutions to this problem. “I will do whatever it takes to clean up the front of the building, whether it is different landscaping, a fountain or even extend the existing design to the building,” he vowed. “I want to work with the community to make this a safe and desirable area. Right now, the day laborers are causing embarrassment to my paying guests and to me. I want to work with the city planning council and the neighborhood council in any way I can. I want to make this a good thing our community.”

Deravanessian also extended an invitation to local civic organizations. “I will donate my facility for free once per year for a local community event. Just get in touch with me.”

Deravanessian’s apparent enthusiasm for improving the area is an encouragement for the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Committee. Said Cleghorn, “We are hoping to work with them on the redesign, specifically to restore the building in keeping with the historic nature of it. They seem very eager to work with us.”