Cherokee Building | |
 The building in 2024 | |
  Location of building inLos Angeles County | |
| Location | 6630 W. Hollywood Blvd. and 1652 N. Cherokee Ave.,Hollywood, California |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34°06′05″N118°20′04″W / 34.1015°N 118.3344°W /34.1015; -118.3344 |
| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Norman W. Alpaugh |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Part of | Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment District (ID85000704) |
| Designated CP | April 4, 1985 |
Cherokee Building is a historic two-story commercial structure located at 6630 W.Hollywood Boulevard and 1652 N. Cherokee Avenue inHollywood, California.
Cherokee Building was built byNorman W. Alpaugh in 1929 and features aSpanish Colonial Revival design.[1] The building housed Hollywood's firstdrive-in businesses, and it catered to the automobile by having a large motor entrance at the rear where motorists could park and enter, rather than entering from the street.[2]
One of Cherokee Building's original tenants was ahair salon that acted as a front for aProhibition-era illegal card club and gamblingspeakeasy. In the 1930s,Gene Austin opened a nightclub in the building, and that business was followed by severalbars, including agay bar.[3][4] In 1944, the bar changed toBoardner's, whose name has remained ever since.[5]
In 1938,Larry Edmunds Bookshop moved into one of the building's storefronts.[2] In the 1960s and 70s, several clothing stores popular with rock musicians were located in this building.[4]
In 1984, theHollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment District was added to theNational Register of Historic Places, with Cherokee Building listed as acontributing property in the district.[1]
In 1993, the building was sold for $2.76 million ($6.01 million in2024).[6]
Cherokee Building was built withconcrete in an L-shaped configuration. The building features aSpanish Colonial Revival design, one that includes an elaboratestringcourse, atiled roof,Moorish arches, abrickpatio with a tiledfountain as itsfocal point,Churrigueresque andwrought iron ornamentation, and ornamentalmedallions.[1]
Cherokee Building tenants Boardner's and Larry Edmunds Bookstore are popular film locations.[7][8]