HISTORIC WALKING TOUR
Now it’s possible to learn about the Village of Del Mar’s rich history through a pleasant historic walking tour, a perfect way to spend a sun-soaked day in North County San Diego’s prestigious and walkable seaside city. The are plaques on several of the historically significant buildings in the area. With a smartphone or tablet, pedestrians can now go to the provided link on each plaque and access detailed information on the buildings and the colorful past of the residents who developed the seaside neighborhood in the early 1900s.
Old Del Mar Post Office | 1414 -1418 Camino Del Mar
In 1925 the Village Post Office was located in a small building known as the Kibler Building at 1410 Camino Del Mar. Mae Kibler was the Postmistress and her husband Luke had a real estate office next door. Today the Kibler Building is home to several retailers including Sundancer, and Julie’s Beachwear.
Sources: Del Mar Looking Back by Nancy Ewing, The Del Mar Picture Book by Dr. Lisa Pluth, Discovering Del Mar’s Past by the Del Mar Historical Society, Del Mar Reflections by Bill Arballo, Del Mar Life & Good Times by William Murray.
Zel’s Del Mar
Also known as Pacific Telephone Exchange Center
Zel’s restaurant was originally used as a Pacific Telephone Exchange (SKline) Center. The center was relocated in the late 70s to the North side of Del Mar Heights Road, across from the current Shell Station. The vacant building was subsequently purchased by local liquor store owner Zel Camiel and leased in the 1980s to former Del Mar Mayor Nancy Hoover who converted it into a restaurant frequented by an elite, powerful and wealthy clientele. The restaurant eventually unraveled and the property was re-leased, but it has always remained a dining establishment and local favorite. Today the restaurant is owned and operated by Zel’s grandson Greg Glassman and his wife Jennifer who named the restaurant in honor of the family patriarch. Zel came to Del Mar in the early days and operated a liquor store in the old strip mall at 15th Street and Camino Del Mar until the property was sold and converted into what is now the Del Mar Plaza. Zel was a town favorite, and spearheaded the capital campaign to build Seagrove Park on the oceanfront at the base of 15th Street. Known as the unofficial Mayor of Del Mar, Zel was honored by the City when he passed away in 1987 with a bench in Seagrove Park to commemorate his life and accomplishments. The original bench that bears his name has recently been relocated to the restaurant site, and the family has donated a replacement bench installed at the ocean view location of the original.
Davidson Building
Also known as the Hotel Del Mar Garage, built circa 1927
The site of Jake’s Restaurant, next door, has a history dating back to around 1910 when it was occupied by the Stratford Inn Garage that served guests at the hotel up the hill, which later became the Hotel Del Mar. When the garage eventually had to be torn down, the heavy wood roof trusses were saved and incorporated into the building that is now Jake’s. Look over your head next time you dine there. In 1927 the old garage was replaced by a new service station for the hotel on the northwest corner of Camino del Mar and 13th Street. The structure is now an office building. Meanwhile, the old garage on Coast Boulevard had a succession of occupants, including a silk stocking factory.
Sources: Del Mar Looking Back by Nancy Ewing, The Del Mar Picture Book by Dr. Lisa Pluth, Discovering Del Mar’s Past by the Del Mar Historical Society, Del Mar Reflections by Bill Arballo, Del Mar Life & Good Times by William Murray.
Del Mar Library
Also known as St. James Catholic Church, built circa 1914
The Del Mar Library on the corner of 13th Street and Camino Del Mar was originally the first Catholic Church in Del Mar. The first mass at St. James was held in 1914, without pews, lights or an altar. As time went on, St. James Parish continued to grow. By 1966, it had outgrown it’s building and moved to its current location in Solana Beach. The building could have joined a list of demolition casualties, but instead, was converted into the Albatross, a fish restaurant owned by Gordon Denyes. The interior of the building was redesigned in 1971 to accommodate and enhance its use as a restaurant. The Albatross became Pancho’s, another restaurant, but not soon after the space transformed yet again into commercial office space, being used for computer business. A local Del Mar realtor, Chiquita Abbott, knew the Del Mar Library was looking for a new home and believed she had found the perfect location for it. The old Del Mar library was located in a temporary trailer next to the city administration offices in 1975, but luckily, Pat Freeman, President of the Friends of Del Mar Library, and Jacqueline Winterer started lobbying heavily for a new library. In 1990 the new library was part of a grand plan to build a 29,000 square foot complex to a new city hall, town meeting space, and underground garage, in which the library portion of the project itself cost $2.4 million. Voters of Del Mar rejected the proposal; however, Freeman and Winterer were persistent and created a new 9,000-square-foot stand-alone library with the price tag of $3.1 million. In an auspicious event, Winterer and Freeman met Del Mar native Joe Sullivan on a plane from Sacramento and shared a drive back home, explaining Del Mar’s need for funding the new library. Sullivan suggested they could raise funds from within the community and, sure enough, with help from Del Mar residents Elliot Parks and Lou Terrell, the city purchased the building in 1994 for $1.2 million. After much fundraising, the Del Mar Library was opened to the public in early 1997. The Del Mar Library is a cornerstone of Del Mar Village still today.
La Tienda — En Fuego
Also known as an office and residence of the family Mushet, built circa 1930
In 1930, two Spanish style residences were constructed along the famous Del Mar main street. The Spanish style residence at 1342 Camino Del Mar was later converted to the very popular restaurant called Cantina La Tienda, which later became a favorite watering hole of Bing Crosby and Pat O’Brien, founders of the Del Mar Racetrack. Today this building houses a popular Mexican restaurant, En Fuego Cantina and Grill and Wine Bar, La Tienda.
Sources: Del Mar Looking Back by Nancy Ewing, The Del Mar Picture Book by Dr. Lisa Pluth, Discovering Del Mar’s Past by the Del Mar Historical Society, Del Mar Reflections by Bill Arballo, Del Mar Life & Good Times by William Murray.
Stratford Square
Also known as the Kockritz Building, built circa 1927
In February 1927, the Stratford Square, originally known as the Kockritz Building, was located at 1442 Camino Del Mar and was the most prominent building in the village. The Kockritz Building was constructed by Herman Kockritz and originally housed a drugstore, soda fountain, grocery store, barbershop, doctor, and dress shop. The building was meant to harmonize in architecture to match the English-style architecture of the Del Mar Hotel and surrounding buildings. The Kockritz Building quickly filled up with eager businessmen. In 1943, the Kockritz building, Del Mar Hotel, and surrounding buildings were purchased by Joseph W. Drown for half a million dollars. Drown immediately gave the building a new coat of paint, eliminating the Old English look. Many years later after the paint was removed, people were surprised to find that the wood and brick were still there. In 1971, Jim Watkins purchased the Kockritz Building, which at the time was heavily rundown. Consisting of ground level shops and second story apartments, it had gained the reputation of being a “hippie haven”. Watkins renovated the building by transforming the rooms upstairs, which had previously been apartments, to quaint little shops and offices, remodeling walls on the lower floors to be a museum of local history, and renaming the building Stratford Square. The Stratford Square Building became a designated historical landmark in 1978. Watkins and his family still own the Stratford Square building, which today houses 2 restaurants and 5 retailers on the first floor with an interior historic museum and offices on the second level. This building is the most iconic structure in Del Mar.
Jake’s Del Mar
Also known as the Stratford Inn Garage, built circa 1910.
Constructed in 1910, the building that is home to Jake’s Del Mar was originally built as the hotel garage for the elegant Stratford Inn and it’s later incarnation, the Hotel Del Mar. These hotels hosted the Hollywood and racetrack crowd in the 1920s, 30s and 40s. Since functioning as the hotel garage, the building has served a variety of uses over the years including the Sheriff Deputy’s headquarters, barracks for the Coast Guard during World War II, an artist’s studio and gallery, and the original home to a local start-up company, KayPro, who was credited with developing one of the first home computers. In the late 1970s, the building was dismantled and some of its parts salvaged. The original rough-hewn roof trusses were repositioned sideways and It became the new Stratford Inn Restaurant. It was sold in 1981 to T S Restaurants who branded Jake’s Del Mar. The original rough-hewn roof trusses of the old Stratford Garage are still visible today. For more information on the current Jake’s Del Mar and to make reservations visit www.jakesdelmar.com.
Sources: Jessica Mills, at Cenci Ventures
St. Peter’s Church
Built circa 1940
St. Peter’s is the sole survivor of the three churches that once called Del Mar home. The building of an Episcopal church started in 1931 when Father Gerald C. Gardner was sent by Bishop Stevens to establish the first official Episcopal Mission Church in Del Mar. Ten years later, the acclaimed Los Angeles architect, Carlton M. Winslow, was hired to design St. Peter’s at the top of 14th Street. A local builder named Tom Douglas carried out the construction of this all-wood church. The first service at the quaint village church was held on October 12, 1941. St. Peter’s has provided the people of Del Mar with a central meeting place since it was established. The Parish Hall has been used for concerts, music lessons, and town hall meetings because there was not a town hall. During that time, the church was integral to the community of Del Mar. Today the Church is still a part of the Del Mar community and works with DMVA on community events and programs.
Del Mar Plaza
Built circa 1989
The Del Mar Plaza site was previously a 1950s shopping center owned by the Fletcher Family who was tremendously instrumental in the development of the area at that time. The original center housed a grocery store, bank, dry cleaners and liquor store. In 1983 the antiquated strip mall was purchased by local developers David Winkler and Ivan Gayler with the vision of building the Del Mar Plaza. Years of planning and design resulted in the stylish European influenced Plaza architecture you see today, featuring fountains, sculpture and a mixed medium of materials. The open air lifestyle and specialty Plaza features amazing ocean views, along with boutiques, art galleries, services and award winning restaurants. The expansive upper ocean view deck and back garden deck is dedicated open space for the public to enjoy. For a full listing of current Del Mar Plaza restaurants, stores and services, please visit www.delmarplaza.com.
L’Auberge Del Mar
Also known as the Stratford Inn and the Hotel Del Mar, originally built circa 1910
In 1966, the Del Mar Hotel was sold to a group that wanted to create a retirement home. But there was a group of citizens in town who had become suspicious of the project and its allegedly church-affiliated backers. There were too many questions with too many incomplete answers. A petition was circulated in opposition to the project, so on November 27th, 1967, City Council entertained the petition in court. The vote was 3 to 2 and the project was denied. For more than a year, the hotel sat there collecting cobwebs, rats, vagrants and vandals. Finally, the owners were told the building must come down, and by mid-December of 1969, the Del Mar Hotel was gone. In 1983, Jim Watkins purchased the land where the Del Mar Hotel had once stood. He sought to bring the community together under the roof of his new hotel. In 1986, Watkins’ dream remained on the drawing board, so Watkins stood on the street corner with a model, showing people what it was, and how it was going to bring back the feeling of the old hotel. After final adjustments were made to the hotel plan, it, along with the Plaza, was approved. Watkins $40 million dream opened in the summer of 1989 with more than 120 rooms, 9 meeting rooms for conferences, tennis courts, and a ballroom that sought to recreate the glory years of the Del Mar Hotel. The grand fireplace in L’Auberge was an exact replica of the old hotel fireplace. However, Watkins dream only lasted 5 years after opening in 1989. The real estate environment had decreased, and Watkins ended up selling L’Auberge to Lowe Enterprises in 1994 for less than he paid for it. In June 2008, L’Auberge Del Mar underwent an extensive renovation by acclaimed architect Cary Collier, who added a sophisticated new look and ambiance with upgraded services and amenities and a revitalized courtyard. The new outdoor Sunset Terrace featured brand-new 2,500 square feet of space for weddings and other private events. L’Auberge also added a new signature restaurant, KITCHEN 1540, which combines world-class dining with a spirited atmosphere, offering guests the choice of dining under the stars, in a private cabana, or in the sleek and modern dining room, with the fireplace focal point. The guest bedrooms had a sophisticated new look, complete with the latest technological advancements of I-Pod docking stations and 42-inch flat screen televisions with high-end personal amenities of romantic fireplaces and walk-in showers. In 2009, Spa L’Auberge was opened, boasting a 5,000 square foot luxury that has been adorned with numerous awards including Spa Magazine’s Best Spa by the Sea.