by Laura Garber
After a seven-year closure, the Clark Building on Valley Drive will reopen its doors, bringing back a cherished Hermosa Beach venue. The city-owned building will once again host events like the Women’s Club and Hermosa Beach Fire Department pancake breakfasts and the Beach Cities Toy Drive Christmas gift wrapping party.
Closed in 2017 due to safety concerns and outdated facilities, the building began renovations in 2024. These upgrades include a commercial kitchen, a new HVAC system, and architectural improvements by The Albert Group Architects. Additionally, the improvements included new plumbing for renovated restrooms and enhanced site improvements, such as updated walkways, ramps and an accessible entrance to the lawn bowling facility. The project’s cost, according to the City, was approximately $2,800,000. The City will also receive a reimbursement from from the Clean Power Alliance through CPA’s Building Electrification Assistance Program for $250,000.
“It has been part of Hermosa’s core history since its dedication in 1937,” said Mayor Rob Saemann during his opening speech.
The city purchased the land that year for recreational activities, including a basketball court and ballroom. Then Mayor, John Clark, an English immigrant passionate about lawn bowling donated $3,500 of his own money ($80,000 in today’s dollars) to build the adjacent lawn bowling facility.
“Imagine the Mayor spending that much of his own money on a City Project…,” Saemann joked.
Almost 90 years later, the same lawn bowling club still gathers at the field.
Hermosa Beach Women’s Club will use the upgraded commercial kitchen facilities to host their annual pancake breakfast on Sunday, October 12.
“We’ve been waiting a long time to get back here. We are very excited,” said co-chair to this year’s Women’s Club pancake breakfast, Laura Oczachowski. ER
*Correction made fixing the cost from the 2024-25 CIP budget to the total cost of the Clark Building project.
That would be 8 years in actual math.