Taix (restaurant) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Taix |
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|---|---|
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1927 |
| City | Los Angeles |
| State | California |
| Country | United States |
Taix (pronounced "TAY") is a famous French restaurant in Los Angeles, California. It first opened its doors in 1927. This restaurant has different dining areas, special rooms for parties, and a music lounge called the 321 Lounge. You can find Taix today at 1911 Sunset Boulevard in the Echo Park part of Los Angeles.
Contents
A Look Back: Taix's History
How the Taix Family Started
The Taix family moved to Los Angeles from the Hautes-Alpes region of France in 1870. They first opened a hotel in downtown Los Angeles. In the mid-1800s, many French people lived in the city. About 20% of Los Angeles residents were French immigrants. The area that is now Chinatown even had a French hospital and a French newspaper.
The First Taix Restaurant
The first Taix restaurant was a casual place. It was run by Marius Taix, his son Marius Taix Jr., and Louis Larquier. They served French country-style meals at long tables where people sat together. The building had brick walls, a metal ceiling, and dark wooden floors.
Because it was near government offices, the restaurant was popular. Many government workers and reporters from the Los Angeles Times ate there. The Los Angeles Times even said that many important people in Los Angeles visited Taix.
The original restaurant was at 321 Commercial Street, close to Union Station. This building used to be a pharmacy owned by Marius Taix. During a time called Prohibition (when alcohol was illegal), the restaurant served "special" wine to city officials in a private room. The first Taix restaurant closed in 1964. The city of Los Angeles bought the building to build a parking garage.
Moving to Echo Park
Two years before the first restaurant closed, Marius Taix Jr. and Louis Larquier opened a new Taix. This new location was in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. The New York Times once described the building's style as an "Los Angeles chalet."
In 1970, a food critic named Lois Dwan said Taix served "lots of simple food at good prices." Today, Taix is a popular spot for baseball fans. They often visit before or after a game at nearby Dodger Stadium. The 321 Lounge gets its name from the first restaurant's address: 321 Commercial Street.
Recent Changes and Future Plans
In 2019, Michael Taix, who was the fourth generation of the family to own the restaurant, sold it. Real estate developers bought the property. They plan to build a new apartment building there.
In October 2020, the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission started talking about making the Taix building a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. This would help protect its history. In 2021, it was decided that the building itself would not be a monument. Instead, some of the restaurant's features and the property would be recognized. This decision allowed the plans for new construction to move forward.
See also
