Law Firm of Geragos & Geragos Purchases Historic L.A. Building

LOS ANGELES — High profile attorney Mark Geragos told the Valley Sun on March 26 about the landmark downtown building he purchased in January along with Brian Kabateck of Kabateck Brown Kellner for $10 million. Geragos is a longtime La Cañada Flintridge resident and a 1975 graduate of Flintridge Prep. Both firms moved into the building on March 2.

The building, located at 644 S. Figueroa St., was built in 1912 and used as a fire station until 1969. It was restored during the 1980s and has since been granted historic status by the city of Los Angeles. It also houses the popular and award winning eatery Engine Co. No. 28.

“It was fortuitous,” Geragos said in a telephone interview this week. “Our lease was up. I went looking for a new location and this became available for lease and we were able to purchase it. We have been renting space for 25 years, the last eight in the Bunker Hill area, and wanted to stay downtown.”

Geragos said he believes in the “revitalization and renaissance” of L.A., citing positive changes in the downtown area, particularly over the past four to five years, with a boom in the condominium market and the construction near the Staples Center of L.A. Live, a $1 billion plus mixed use project to include a five-star hotel; premier music and theatre with seating for over 7,000; restaurants, apartments and more.

“We decided to purchase this historic building because of its significance to the city as well as its proximity to the areas of revitalization,” Geragos said. “We also want to show our commitment and faith in the downtown area.

“It’s funny but a lot of people we know have jumped on this saying that’s what we do for a living is to put out fires,” joked Geragos. “So it’s appropriate that we are now in a former fire station.”