We celebrated 40 years of historic preservation at the Imperial Western Beer Co.

Closed since 1967, the iconic Art-Deco-Navajo space formerly occupied by the Fred Harvey Restaurant at L.A.’s historic Union Station has reopened as Imperial Western Beer Co.

The Conservancy was among the very first to see the rebirth of this Los Angeles gem - we hosted an exclusive preview benefitting the Conservancy.

Event Details

Wednesday, October 3, 2018
6 - 9 p.m.

800 North Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

$150 per person

The first 100 people to register for the event received a coupon code for $25 in ride credits from Lyft! 

Admission to this 21+ event included a selection of wine, cocktails, and craft beer brewed in-house by Head Brewer Devon Randall, curated oyster and raw bar program by L.A.-based chef David Lentz, as well as American classics, such as buttermilk fried chicken and house smoked mussels, served buffet-style. 

This event is part of the Conservancy’s 40th anniversary celebration! The Conservancy has worked since 1978 to make sure L.A. County’s historic places survive and thrive for future generations.

A very special thank you to Cedd Moses (213 Hospitality), Conservancy board member Eric Needleman (The Spirited Group), and all the folks at Imperial Western Beer Co. for generously inviting the Conservancy to be among the first to preview the space.  

About Imperial Western Beer Co.

The opening of Imperial Western Beer Co. marks a new era of dining at L.A.’s historic Union Station. Named after the legendary Southern Pacific train of the 1930s, it took four years to bring the historic space back to life.

The restored atmosphere at Imperial Western Beer Co. highlights historical details across the board. The brewpub features bespoke furniture and lighting inspired by 1940s train travel, capturing the glamour of the era’s railways and dining cars. In true beer hall fashion, it also boasts custom game tables, pool tables, and shuffleboard.

At the heart of Imperial Western Beer Co. lies the main bar, constructed with brass, walnut, and fluted glass. Simple geometric shapes across the restaurant align with the original architect's unique vision of Southwestern Mission-style motifs.

About The Streamliner

The Streamliner boasts Streamline Moderne architecture, as well as mid-century graphics and billboard ads for the popular streamliner rail cars of the 1940s and 1950s. Its design also draws inspiration from a historic 1940s aesthetic.

The existing curved walls, amber bubble glass, and uniquely shaped ceiling were restored from their original state, while new touches like patterned wallpaper and updated brass lights were added to evoke the dark ambiance of the space.

The design team looked to mid-century train travel to develop a cushion-edged bar top, a wooden millwork back bar, and fluted glass evoking the era’s modern dining cars. The copper bar face and metal detailing throughout The Streamliner were left distressed so as not to erase the well-worn feeling. Original wainscot panels were uncovered and updated to blend seamlessly with the original details in the room.