The Plaza Hotel

(1925)

1037 Fourth Avenue

Architect: L. Smith

Architectural Style: Chicago Commercial Style

Builder: Waldorf Building Company

The name “Plaza Hotel” has always been synonymous with luxury, glamour and the opulent spirit of the Roaring 20s.

Such was the case with San Diego’s version of the Plaza Hotel, which was built by Adolph Becker in 1925.

The elegant interior, in the Beaux Arts or Art Deco style, reflected the showy opulence of the day. It boasted a marble lobby complete with potted palms and alabaster statuary. Metallic gold trim added sparkle to the showy ambience. A manually operated elevator provided another lavish accent.

The hotel was built as an annex to Becker’s Waldorf Hotel, which was located on the lot next to it. The structure, completed in less than six months, was described as of “Class A” construction and architecture. After extensive repairs and alterations were made to the Waldorf, the two buildings were joined, and became known as the New Plaza Hotel in 1936.

The exterior of the seven-story rectangular building was of brick and reinforced concrete. It was crowned with a flat roof and a two-story penthouse on the north side. The front elevation consisted of a boxed cornice with decorative brackets on the front. The windows on the upper floors consisted of four pairs of double hung sash style windows with some having multi-paned upper sashes. The lobby windows were plate glass with transoms above a metallic band. An art deco marquee over the entry provided yet another luxurious detail to the facade.

Throughout its early years, the Plaza was known as the palace of the day. This “non-stop circus” provided guests with cocktail lounges, restaurants and even “underground” gambling. Well into the 1950s, many flocked to the very popular “Pig “N Whistle” restaurant, even if they were not staying at the hotel.

Unfortunately, due to the lasting effects of the Great Depression and the economic downturn, plus the rising popularity of motels, slowly but surely, this once fashionable destination became referred to as a creepy old building or a low income hotel replete with bedbugs.

It was also often compared to the Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles, although the Cecil could also add to its description – home of many suicides, unnatural deaths and home of a serial killer! Both, though, were once luxurious destinations, but now reduced to low income SROs with somewhat questionable reputations.

Many of the people who lived at the Plaza recall it fondly, even with its multitude of bedbugs! They describe it having a sort of homey atmosphere, where people looked out for each other.

The Plaza closed its doors for the last time in the spring of 2019, as it was purchased by JKA or Found, a new national hospitality brand. They planned a complete upgrade for the building with a new and code compliant seismic building system, a second elevator, ceiling sprinklers, bathrooms in all rooms and several reception areas. Additionally, a restaurant, coffee bar, guest kitchen and a guest laundry would be added. A basement speakeasy was also planned in the space which was an abandoned 1930s lounge.

Sadly, they did not plan on COVID and the ensuing lockdown.

The once deluxe hotel is seemingly abandoned again – just waiting for that promised remodel, which still hasn’t taken place.