Last week, chain-link construction fencing covered with green shade cloth was placed around the Armenian Café and the two-story Surf Motel on Carlsbad Village Drive. Both are scheduled to be demolished.
When he signed his lease 27 years ago, Eddy Shakarjian, the owner of the Armenian Café, knew about the clause that read, someday, the property owner might want to build a hotel and the restaurant would have to go. It wasn’t until ten years ago that the city approved a new hotel’s plans, but then the recession hit and construction funding dried up, thus delaying the project until now.
The restaurant, with a partial ocean-view dining deck overlooking Coast Highway, and the well-maintained Surf Motel, built in 1968, both closed in December, shortly after the city approved the development plans.
In his last week of business, Shakarjian told the Union-Tribune, “I’m gonna cry. I can’t imagine what happens when I see the bulldozers bulldoze this building.”
As of January 28, no major demolition had taken place on the property. Skateboarders, however, were taking advantage of the motel’s drained pool and the green fence, making them unnoticeable from the surrounding streets.
A three-story Marriott Hotel will replace the popular Mediterranean restaurant and the 28-room motel.
Shakarjian reportedly is looking for a new restaurant location in North County and has also approached the new hotel’s landlord about reopening the restaurant inside the Marriott.
Last week, chain-link construction fencing covered with green shade cloth was placed around the Armenian Café and the two-story Surf Motel on Carlsbad Village Drive. Both are scheduled to be demolished.
When he signed his lease 27 years ago, Eddy Shakarjian, the owner of the Armenian Café, knew about the clause that read, someday, the property owner might want to build a hotel and the restaurant would have to go. It wasn’t until ten years ago that the city approved a new hotel’s plans, but then the recession hit and construction funding dried up, thus delaying the project until now.
The restaurant, with a partial ocean-view dining deck overlooking Coast Highway, and the well-maintained Surf Motel, built in 1968, both closed in December, shortly after the city approved the development plans.
In his last week of business, Shakarjian told the Union-Tribune, “I’m gonna cry. I can’t imagine what happens when I see the bulldozers bulldoze this building.”
As of January 28, no major demolition had taken place on the property. Skateboarders, however, were taking advantage of the motel’s drained pool and the green fence, making them unnoticeable from the surrounding streets.
A three-story Marriott Hotel will replace the popular Mediterranean restaurant and the 28-room motel.
Shakarjian reportedly is looking for a new restaurant location in North County and has also approached the new hotel’s landlord about reopening the restaurant inside the Marriott.
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