AN ENGLISH GOTHIC VIBE FOR ANY TIME OF DAY: NEWLY THRIVING DOWNTOWN L.A. ARTS COMMUNITY FLOCKS TO
ROYAL CLAYTONS ,
THE NEW NEIGHBORHOOD HOTSPOT PERFECT FOR EARLY MORNING BREAKFASTS, POWER LUNCHES, SERIOUS DINNERS AND AN EVERCHANGING PALETTE OF LATE NIGHT SOUNDS
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Located In A Building That Was Once a Toy Factory, Royal Claytons— Which Opened Its Doors September 21—Actively Caters To A Diverse Clientele; Macy Gray and Members of The Black Eyed Peas Have Been Spotted Amidst Its Dark Wood Tones, Enjoying Items From Its Eclectic Menu

Located at 1855 Industrial, at the corner of Industrial and Mateo in the heart of Downtown L.A.'s renovated, once again thriving Arts District, Royal Claytons has been, since its opening last September 21, a hip and comfortable gathering place for artists, tourists and visitors in search of a progressive vibe and a great meal at any time of day.

Boasting a distinctive New York, East Coast feel with—as its name implies—a great deal of dark wood tones and English gothic influence, the restaurant seems to magically morph into many different places throughout a 19 hour day that runs from the early morning breakfast featuring gourmet coffees and exquisite baked goods at 7 a.m. until closing time at 2 a.m Monday thru Friday (on weekends the restaurant is open from 10 a.m. til 2 a.m.).

As soon as breakfast ends, Royal Claytons becomes a power lunch place, then a local community afternoon hangout and hosts a pretty serious dinner crowd. The expertise of French chef Thomas Deville creates an effortlessly magnificent array of soups, salads, chicken and steak dishes. When Royal Claytons transforms later in the evening into a tavern atmosphere, they're there with the fun foods like pizza; their signature dessert is fresh-baked cookies with shots of milk. The dining experience transcends the average neighborhood fare via an artistic interpretation of classic American cuisine.

A variety of draft beers, an extensive wine list, and a full line of alcohol beverages will compliment meal service. As an added benefit and convenience, Royal Claytons will provide a strong menu selection for delivery to nearby residents.

Those post 10:30 p.m., late night social outings at the bar (formally referred to by principal owners Tony Gower , Elizabeth Peterson and architect George Kelly as “Royal Clayton's After Dark”) and games of hardcore pool are punctuated—but never overwhelmed—by a powerful variety of eclectic music created by local DJs each night. One night, they may spin the latest Euro vibing grooves from Berlin and the Spanish Mediterranean island of Ibiza, the next house music or everyone's favorite, 80s music. Management is also working on launching a comedy night.

While catering to a very diverse clientele, artsy and otherwise, a few musical celebrities have been spotted over the past few months, including members of The Black Eyed Peas and soul singer Macy Gray.

The interior design of the space provides a unique template for local artists' work, merging with the “toy lofts” concept to produce a changing restaurant ambience. The playful spirit of the restaurant in all of its transformations is in keeping with the Royal Claytons location in a building that was once a famous toy company.

Among the unique touches created by interior designer to the stars Dana Hollister are 17th century gothic original mirroring that runs 14 feet high; 200 year old stained glass windows; original columns taken from an 18th century country house. Some of the doors at Royal Claytons are recreations of actual doors that were in the lobby of the toy company where the restaurant now stands.

“We're tapping into the energy of the surrounding neighborhood and becoming a central focus for the many residents who live here,” says Peterson. “There have been famous painters and artists in this area since the 70s, and there's been a whole new influx since the area started renovation. It's really exciting to be part of the growing community.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

FAMED L.A. CLUB OWNER TONY GOWER, CELEBRITY DESIGNER DANA HOLLISTER, REVOLUTIONARY URBAN PLANNER ELIZABETH PETERSON AND INNOVATIVE RESTAURATEUR JIM VENETOS ARE PROVING TO BE A VISIONARY DEVELOPMENT TEAM WITH THE LAUNCH OF THREE UNIQUE, VISUALLY STUNNING VENUES IN THE HEART OF THE DOWNTOWN L.A. ARTS DISTRICT

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The Upscale Restaurant Royal Claytons Opened In September To Rave Reviews And Has Quickly Become A Favorite Of Locals, Celebrities, And Downtown Clubgoers

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The Grand Opening Of Bordello, A Provocative New Night Club, Is On December 23, And A Neighborhood Bar, The Bridge Tavern Is Set To Open In Mid-February

The renaissance of Downtown Los Angeles is heating up thanks to the unique vision of new development team Tony Gower, Dana Hollister, Elizabeth Peterson and Jim Venetos. These maverick developers are on a mission to reawaken the long sleeping giant that is the L.A. River District.

Each of these accomplished individuals brings to the partnership a different discipline perfectly suited for developing venues that match the fabric and character of this unique downtown community.

Tony Gower is the impresario. Gower made history in 1993 when he and his late wife Tammi Gower bought and restored The Derby, L.A.'s premiere big band jazz and Swing Club. Their rich vision, savvy booking and retro styling brought the club back to the mythic status it enjoyed in the glory days of early Hollywood. Under Gower's watch, The Derby soon attracted top Hollywood stars including Julia Roberts, Jack Nicholson, Cameron Diaz, Bob Hope, Whoopi Goldberg and Jennifer Lopez, and helped launch the careers of innovative neo-swing bands Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Royal Crown Revue. Gower's club career began in his early teens in London, England and then in Spain where he began his development and booking career in the Spanish entertainment industry. He arrived in the U.S. in 1983 where he started underground clubs in downtown Los Angeles.

Dana Hollister is the designer, and bold colors, daring concepts and fearless designs are her trademarks. In the early nineties, Hollister opened what was to become one of the premiere interior design firms in Los Angeles, Odalisque. Tim Burton, Madonna, Cher, Tom Petty, Charlize Theron and John Malkovich were just some of her clients. Shutting down Odalisque at the peak of its success to pursue her own vision, Hollister bought and threw herself into the restoration of the abandoned Canfield-Moreno Estate, rebranding it The Paramour. Under Hollister's command, The Paramour has become one of the most exquisite residences in all of Los Angeles and is in demand as a world famous filming location. Annie Leibovitz, Steven Meisel, Bruce Weber, David LaChapelle, The Coen Brothers and David Lynch have all featured Hollister's Paramour in their projects. Elizabeth Peterson is the visionary urban planner. As the owner of Elizabeth Peterson Group, she has introduced, entitled, and constructed over 500 venues in the L.A. market. Peterson is considered the United States' foremost expert on urban planning, development, and construction of bars, restaurants, nightclubs and hotels. She speaks all over the country on the issue of urban development. Knowing that the hospitality industry is the 2nd largest producer of revenue in the world, Peterson has worked for multiple states to revitalize downtrodden neighborhoods. With Petersons help, derelict communities have experienced artistic and creative rebirths. Her recent client roster includes Andre Balazs, Core Group, CIM Group, Kennedy Wilson, Sean McPherson, and John Lyons/Lyons Group. Peterson is the 2007 Chair of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and sits on many government task forces including the Responsible Hospitality Institute of America.

Prior to founding the Elizabeth Peterson Group, Peterson built, operated and was the talent buyer for Hollywood's Knitting Factory, the Hollywood Athletic Club, St. Marks Jazz Club in Venice, and the legendary At My Place in Santa Monica. She booked and developed artists in the L.A. market such as Boney James, Everett Harp, Stevie Wonder, Bonnie Raitt, Billy Vera & the Beaters and Etta James.

Jim Venetos is the innovative restaurateur who owns one of the most famous diners in Los Angeles, the Brite Spot. Through his efforts, this landmark diner has redefined cool, with late-night DJ's, comfort food, and around the clock hours. By remaking this historic diner into a destination restaurant, Venetos has renewed interest in L.A.'s East Side and helped change the fiber of the Sunset corridor in Echo Park. Regulars at the Brite Spot include Jack Black, Kim Gordon, Perry Farrell, Juliette Lewis and Tatiana von Furstenberg.

The team's first opening is Royal Claytons, located at 1855 Industrial Street in the Toy Factory Lofts Building. As the first upscale restaurant to hit the Arts district in a decade, Royal Claytons has been enthusiastically welcomed by downtown loft residents and has quickly become a linchpin for this burgeoning downtown community. Locals and celebrity clientele spotted there include members of The Black Eyed Peas, soul singer Macy Gray, and fashion designer Adriano Goldschmied. Claytons is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and after 10PM transforms into “Claytons After Dark,” a great hang for cocktails, billiards and avant-garde music.

Architect George Kelly, who is known for his design and construction of bars and restaurants throughout Hollywood and the Downtown area, is also a partner in this venture.

Next is the grand opening of Bordello, a luscious hypnotic carnival of a nightclub located in the oldest bar in Downtown L.A. at 901 E. 1st St., formerly the site of Little Pedro's. On December 23, Bordello kicks off its opening with a live performance by the infamous Royal Crown Revue. This bacchanalian nightclub, bar and restaurant will feature special nights dedicated to jazz, blues, Euro club music and, true to the location's roots as a onetime legal bordello, classic Vaudeville styled burlesque shows.

The third venue, of the seven this group has planned, is a medieval-styled English Beer Garden called The Bridge Tavern . It will feature a vast beer selection, boutique wine list and comfort food served for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Live jazz will be featured on Saturdays and Sundays evenings. Located at the site of the former Studio Café, The Bridge Tavern is set to open at 1356 Palmetto St. in late February.