Blossom Before: 

The location selected by the restaurateur was a brave one. Even though this location is clearly a “Restaurant”, Building and Safety had something else to say. The fireworks were just beginning.

Blossom Inside:

In addition to doing his own interior design and construction, Duc Pham personally took on the riff raff of hookers, pimps, and drug addicts in the heart of skid row. Despite this, he created a safe and welcoming environment for residents and patrons in the area.

Blossom After:

The compiling of a significant case was necessary in order to prove to Building and Safety that this location was, in fact, a restaurant. The protocol for the remodel of any structure within the City of Los Angeles calls for records from City Archives proving the status of your site and its use classification. Due to the unique charachteristics of this location, this protocol hindered our case. We researched everything from archived phone books, to old health permits, and even records at the Public Library as well as County Assessors in order to prove this location's status as a “Restaurant.”. Unfortunately, historical building's records are often lost or damaged, leaving business owners feeling helpless.

In the end this was a close one. After intense battling, we eventually wore down the Building Department and took home a permit for an “Existing Restaurant.” The corner of Winston & Main is, without question, a complete 180 from what it was before Mr. Pham's arrival.  I think it can be said that all partys involved are now satisfied with the result including the governing agencies that initially denied the project.  It’s unfortunate that this took as much battling as it did.