The towering shells of new high-rises and uprooted pavement of Hollywood Boulevard attest to the changes in downtown Hollywood. But as the strip enters a new phase, so do the historic buildings that have endured over the last century.
One of those sites, at 1928 Hollywood Blvd, is the Joe’s Tropical Café building, which is being renovated along with so much of downtown strip.
Jeffrey Baxt and his family acquired the building in 2000, and are restoring the exterior while maintaining the original façade. “We got the character of the original structure using photographs from the historical society,” said Baxt.
From 1927 through the 1940s, the Menis family ran Joe’s Tropical Café, a popular restaurant and fingerprint of the community. Since then, the building has been designated a historical downtown landmark by the Hollywood Historical Society and the Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency. The recognition includes a plaque next to the building.
Read more here