After Foreclosure, The Aztec Hotel Faces Uncertain Future
The historic building, which has long been the subject of "haunted" tales, will go up for sale on May 16.
The Aztec Hotel, one of only three properties in town listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is in the process of foreclosure and will go up for sale later this month at an asking price of more $2.4 million. The fate of the landmark building after it changes hands remains to be seen.
The hotel is currently being run by HTL Hotel Management and a sale by the appointed trustee, Stewart Default Services, is set to be held at the Pomona Superior Courts Building on May 16 at 10:30 a.m.
Chester Reed and Chris Ott of HTL are managing the building until a new buyer purchases the property. Currently, about half of the 44 rooms are either rented to tenants or available to overnight guests.
"We do pretty much everything we can to maintain the building and clean up what’s here," Ott said. "We’re trying to rebuild the reputation of the hotel."
"We’re here to do whatever we can to make the place the way it used to be," Reed added. "Just try to bring back the luster of the place."
Reed, a chef with 22 years of experience, has revised the menu in the Brass Elephant, the Aztec Hotel’s restaurant. To attract patrons, Ott and Reed are also trying to bring more musical acts to the hotel.
"We’re going to be adding more entertainment on Thursdays and Sundays," Ott said.
HTL has been managing the Aztec Hotel as a third party ever since the owner defaulted on mortgage payments, leading to foreclosure, according to Reed.
The Los Angeles County Assessor's Office lists the current owner of the hotel as Kathryn Reece.
The current managers have been on the premises since January 28, after the Los Angeles County District Court appointed HTL to manage the hotel.
The hotel features live music on Fridays and Saturdays. One well-known group is the Billy Haarbauer Band, which has been playing at the venue for about 10 years. Indie rock bands have also filmed music videos at the hotel, Reed said.
Monrovia historian Steve Baker explained more about the building’s significance last month during a MOHPG presentation in the Aztec’s Mayan Room and lobby.
The hotel was constructed along the route of the original Route 66 in the 1920s, and opened in 1925 to much fanfare, Baker said. It was designed by architect Robert Stacy-Judd, who was primarily inspired by the geometric designs and artwork of the Mayan culture. Although it is often cited as an example of Stacy-Judd’s "Mayan Revival" style, the building was named the Aztec Hotel because it was thought the public would not be as familiar with the Mayan civilization.
A novelty attraction frequented by celebrities, the Aztec Hotel nevertheless suffered financial difficulties. A few years after Route 66 was rerouted, the hotel closed in 1935. After reopening in 1938 and undergoing numerous changes, it was finally listed on the National Register of Places in 1978.
Several features, such as the floor tiles, stained glass windows and top light fixtures in the lobby, date back from the 1920s, Baker said. When the Brass Elephant was created in 1983, the right wing of the lobby had been partitioned off. In the last several years, the partition was torn down so the lobby is closer to its original state, and the front doors were restored.
Many of the murals were painted over, but some of them have been restored almost to their original state. One on the east wall, called "The God of Joy" by Stacy-Judd, is still in its original state.
"Interestingly enough, next to the women’s room, the design is called ‘The God of Lust,’" Baker told an amused audience.
Guests have also reported that the ladies room in the main lobby is the location of "psychic phenomemon," one of several stories of ghostly activity at the hotel. One story involved a pair of newlyweds who purportedly stayed in the famously haunted Room 120 on their wedding night.
"Supposedly their nuptial activities were a little rambunctious," Baker said. "The bride fell out of bed, struck her head on the radiator, and died from the blow."
There is another story about the haunted room, with a slightly different yet strangely similar ending.
"A young woman who had the interesting name of Razzle Dazzle allegedly also functioned as an ‘independent contractor’ in the Aztec bar, and one of her clients she went up with, either an argument came up over the monetary proposition, or who was going to do what to whom, and she was shoved and fell and hit her head," Baker said.
Guests have told Reed and Ott of strange noises and banging coming from Room 129, which is also rumored to be haunted, although it is not as famous as Room 120.
"I think everyone’s familiar with Room 120. People call and ask," said Reed.
"Specifically for that room," Ott added.
Not surprisingly, the accounts of ghostly happenings means that the Aztec Hotel has also attracted its share of ghost hunters.
"I’ve got a paranormal group coming out at the end of the month to check up on some stuff," Reed said.
Staff Writer Nathan McIntire contributed to this story.
sayitisntso
11:03 pm on Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Well Nathan, as usual Patch has only presented half of a story and neglected to include the other side of the story.
One can only wonder why the current owner of the Aztec Hotel, Kathryn Reece, was not contacted to answer questions and make statements about the current state and future of the Aztec Hotel.
If your reporter, Alison Roeske, had contacted Kathryn Reece, she would have found out about the attempt by the Tomato Bank to grab the property and the ensuing lawsuit against the bank. She would have found out that there was no default on the mortgage payment.
sayitisntso
11:07 pm on Tuesday, May 10, 2011
If Alison Roeske had taken the time to contact the MPD about the trouble that the current management company has caused the city and neighbors which prompted the need for the MPD to warn them about possible fines if it continued.
If Alison Roeske had driven buy or visited the Aztec during what is prime time for business she would have seen a empty parking lot except for a few cars that belong to employees and room guests and a very empty bar and restaurant compared to the time prior to the management company taking over.
rick harper
8:27 am on Sunday, May 15, 2011
This woman Kathryn has done so many illegal practices I'm suprised she's not in jail.
The community I'm sure would like to see this property run in a fashion that best suits the neighborhood as well as tourists in a legitimate way.
The bar has been dead because she raised the prices and stopped the entertainment long before new managment took over.
Frank "frazgo" Zgonc
6:30 am on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Don't forget as well that it is a Historical Monument that was in grave disrepair prior to Kathy Reece stepping up and restoring it. She spent a ton of money restoring the murals and facade with the help of artist Jorge DeSario (spelling?). Kathy Reece also been a great friend to the non-profits in town and has received awards for her help from them.
The current property management team came in an canned so many of the employees leaving them jobless, many are still looking for new jobs. It made no sense to fire them and then rehire new folks for the same jobs.
Jerry Baker
7:21 am on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The Aztec Bar & Grill is the source of much consternation for neighbors. I live blocks away and I can hear the thump thump thump of loud music at 1 o'clock in the morning on the weekends. Not to mention the idiots that have car stereo competitions in the parking lot, and the drunks yelling and carrying on as they walk to 7-11. I hope the new owners convert it to something quieter like it used to be, or shut it down.
sayitisntso
7:55 am on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Years ago I purchased a home near a freeway and had to contend with traffic noise 24/7. Buy a home near a school or park and expect to hear children yelling and school bells ringing.
When you live next to a business district and major four lane street then you will hear car stereos and speaker base thumping often along with people yelling and it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is coming from the Aztec.
I get these morons that drive buy my home all hours with the car base speakers so loud that it causes vibration in the house, sometimes they yell out the windows and or throw beer cans on the lawn. I live nowhere near the Aztec or any other business.
Maybe we need to re-institute Prohibition, and have a curfew that keeps everyone inside after 10pm.
Jerry Baker
7:59 am on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
I'm guessing you missed the whole "blocks away" part. Regardless, it is coming from the Aztec because all I have to do is put on my sandals and walk over there to verify before I call the police.
sayitisntso
8:46 am on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Jerry Baker,
I think you missed my point!
If you live near a venue that will by its very nature of existence produce certain by-products then you must expect to live with those by-products or you should have chosen to live somewhere that was not likely to produce the by-products that you cannot tolerate.
Jerry Baker
8:54 am on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
I didn't miss the point. The point I was making was that I didn't choose to live "near" a venue. I live blocks away. The venue also didn't have loud music at 1 o'clock in the morning when I started living here. You cannot possibly believe it's reasonable for any business to have a 1/4 mile exclusion zone around it where residents just have to put up with whatever the business feels like doing. That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard suggested on here. Businesses don't get to dictate what the residents have to suffer with. I cannot run my stereo loud enough to be heard 1/4-mile away at 1 o'clock in the morning and I don't expect Monrovia to grant special rights to a business to do it either.
This is a community and if the Aztec wants to be a part of the community they have to be a responsible community member. If they do not want to be, the rest of the community will eventually force it upon them .. .as it should be.
sayitisntso
9:29 am on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The very fact that you have to put on your sandals and walk over to the Aztec to verify that the noise is coming from there says that there must routinely be noise coming from other sources in your area.
Jerry Baker
12:00 pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Yes, there are noises in the city. I do not wish to be a burden to the police in the event that I call them to the Aztec and it turns out to be a wild party at a house next to the Aztec or something. To avoid that I verify first.
Monrovia Betty
10:57 am on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
I think that the Aztec hotel, regardless of it's current businesses should be restored to it's former glory as much as possible. I have live in Monrovia for most of my life, and as a child I remember sitting at the counter in the coffee shop having breakfast. Monrovia is a very unique community that has a great history. I think it is essential to our community culture to maintain and restore the treasures that we have in town.
As for too much noise coming from the bar, I have heard it on occasion as I have passed by in my car. I think that all businesses should adhere to the communities laws and restrictions as everyone else does. Regardless of where YOU live, we all have to follow the rules!
Kristine M
9:13 pm on Sunday, May 15, 2011
I LOVE Monrovia Betty's idea! I wish I had the money to buy it and live there and make it another jewel in this gem city. Let's hope for the best for this wonderful historical structure.
Alice Parkinson
11:48 am on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
OK I live on the same street but blocks away. I do not hear the music.
But over the years I've had two cars totaled by patrons from this fine establishment. (pun intended)
one time took out 4 cars then a few year later 10 cars.
Scott Doberman
2:58 pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Alice, it just adds credibility for all of the very positive reviews of the Brass Elephant has received over the years, they serve some pretty good drinks for the price. Or at least they did before the purging of the Aztec & Brass Elephant staff. : - (
Dorothy Kelty
11:52 am on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
......................I am so sorry to learn that Kathy no longer owns the Hotel.
Some of my most pleasant evenings there were with my mom, in her 90's, with a Big Band era music entertainer and dancing in the back area.
I wish Community Services or some other group would revive this very appropriate venue for this kind of entertainment on a regular basis for the community, the Aztec managers, Route 66 fans, etc - a win-win for all of us!
Vicki Adams
12:09 pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
I too am sorry to hear Kathy is losing the Aztec, she surely tried to revive this unique piece of history many of us grew up enjoying.
I hope that the new owners will continue her efforts. Monrovia is all about our historic buildings and homes, too many have been lost already.
sayitisntso
12:46 pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Who said she is losing it?
It's not over until the fat lady sings. Stay tuned!
Dorothy Kelty
1:03 pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
WONDERFUL.........GO KATHY!
Bob Dollins
1:05 pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Whoever takes control of the Aztec, would they please repaint the outside facade! Pea-green, beige and purple have to be the most gawd-awful color combination I've ever seen other than that house on the south corner of Palm and Canyon by Clifton school. I've heard that this was the original color but find that hard to believe.
Gayle M. Montgomery
1:52 pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
I'm hoping that, no matter how the finances are resolved, the property is maintained as an historic piece. There were signs of disrepair when I visited in December. I think part of the problem was the rates for staying there were so low. A lot of effort went into making it a Monrovia gem when first built, and I know the last owner did a lot to try to restore it. Would be great if the city could get behind it. As for the "noise violations," I feel about those as I do folks who live by the Hollywood Bowl and complain and/or the NHRA track in Pomona and gripe. We all get some benefit from the income derived from such ventures. It's almost a can we all just get along kind of thing.
Jerry Baker
2:01 pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
What are your feelings on the rights of neighbors when the use of an establishment changes, like an establishment begins live music where they did not have it before? The neighbors are supposed to pick up and move if they don't like it? That sounds kind of like a Soviet-style attitude to me: "We plan your city, you live with it. Too bad."
Iamsam
2:25 pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
I live less than a 1/4 mile from there and have never heard music nor been inconvenienced by crowds. How can we say it sits empty but thumping loud music comes from there? That doesn't make sense. The Aztec has been a historical place in Monrovia and should be restored to it's beauty. If a hotel with bar is what it is, then yes, you deal with it. It has been zoned for that type of business for decades. Those that live on Sunset listen to the sounds of a football game and bright lights each Friday night.
Jerry Baker
2:30 pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Friday night at 8:00 pm is a little different than 1:00 am. If you would like to hear the noise yourself, I'd be happy to conduct a tour of my home at 1:00 am on a weekend morning if you're interested.
Bilbo
2:52 pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
I bought a house on the same street as the bar 25 years ago. It was not loud, but it was a bar. I was not naive thinking that this bar would be a quiet place forever. The new owner has tried to re-invigorate the Aztec. The main way to do that is with money from increased income from the bar. I now have young children, and we met with the owner several years ago when the place started to attract a crowd. ( i was looking for a solution to the noise, the parking issues and the foot traffic, since I live very close on the same street) She worked with the neighbors and I have been satisfied with the outcome. I hope that she gets ownership back, rather than to see the place empty and decline.
Scott Doberman
3:06 pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
I would bet that Bowden Development could fit 24 condos on the site of the Aztec parking lot.
OOPS ! Did I let the cat out of the bag ?
Jerry Baker
3:12 pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Heh, I like the cut of your jib. I was just thinking to myself about how lonely I've been getting on the streets of Monrovia, how much I'd like some additional company on the road here in town. When I drive around I'm always thinking to myself how few people there are and how much it would improve the city if we could cram a few thousand more cars onto the streets. Maybe we could set the signals on Foothill to copy the one at Shamrock so we'd all have 60 seconds at each intersection to meet and greet. The possibilities are endless.
sayitisntso
3:46 pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Not with it on the Historic Registry.
Scott Doberman
4:55 pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The Aztec Hotel is on the Historical Registry, the parking lot is not on the Historical Registry. In some cities like Arcadia, Newport Beach, Manhattan Beach, they tare down a house and build a bigger house. In Monrovia, you tare down a craftsman bungalow and you build six or eight condos on the lot. There are a few developers in town who have it down to a science. I still can't figure how they can get so many units on a lot as they have been doing all over town for years now. Just follow the money. Look who received political contributions from whom.
sayitisntso
5:05 pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The parking lot could not be separated from the Aztec because of the required parking spaces necessary for doing business.
punkster
5:14 pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Thank God!
R Terry
7:36 pm on Friday, May 13, 2011
It can't be real pleasant living anywhere near a nightclub/bar but the Aztec has certainly had more than it's share of lowend clientelle.
Kathy really did try to make a go of it but bar popularity if fickle and the restaurant was never good in my experience.
Kenneth Lowndes
6:30 pm on Saturday, May 14, 2011
Sadly, this is yet another victim of the greatest threat known to mankind, the Federal Reserve, a private and unregulated credit and currency monopoly.
In recent times, we have lost several other great venues, all due to the rapid contraction of their private, unregulated credit monopoly.
If you want sustainable change, there is something we can do about it. In fact, we must.
Remove interest from the entire economy, and institute the New IVAMU Standard of Value for Money.
SEE it here: (invented in Monrovia)
http://www.ivamu.com/pg1.htm
Nancy Ann Rhinehart
10:35 pm on Saturday, May 14, 2011
Hi There ... Usually when a structure is on the National Trust for Historical Preservation, it is not to be touched, torn down or other such destruction. Have you contacted the LA Conservancy or Historical Preservation Organization? Does Monrovia have it's own Historical Group? Am a member of a museum called Heritage Square Museum in Highland Park (www.heritagesquaremuseum.org). There has to be a way that some financial grant(s) can help save such an excellent landmark as this. Queen Mary was almost blown up in the early 1990's for break water but is also on the National Trust now for Long Beach. That I was a part of for they claimed at the time the Queen Mary was not an American ship, which it isn't but ... did find many that are on the Historical Preservation and Maritime listing that are not as well. Not sure what most of the story is about. All I know is I hate to see anything happen to such a structure for future generations to see. As far as paranormal? Come to Heritage Square Museum sometime, we have eight structures from 1876 to 1899 and you'll feel it. Contact Travel Channel which has the Ghost Adventure series guys, they might be able to help. Sincerely, N Rhinehart
Kathie Reece-McNeill
12:15 am on Sunday, May 15, 2011
I know that everyone has an opinion and I will fight to my death for your right to that opinion, however, just because you say it, doesn't make it so. God has provided and for today there is not going to be a sale on May 16, 2011 and the truth is beginning to come out...not opinion...but truth. Thank you all that show your support and for those who would like to attack, God bless you and I will keep you in my prayers and hope that you feel better.
Bill L. Maher
5:34 am on Sunday, May 15, 2011
I want to say I'm on your side Kathie. I think too many people for get what the Aztec was like before you took it over. Not just all of the renovations that took place when you became the owner but how you cleaned up the Aztec and sent the riffraff off to other places unknown. And for you who are uninformed, yes the City of Monrovia did come after Kathie and the Aztec. The City had other plans for the Aztec. There use to be a couple of comments above a few days ago that touched on it in a round about way but for some strange reason those comments have disappeared ???
Sad to see there's so much hate in your city. Good luck Kathie and I hope the ghoast in room 120 pays a visit to all of the hate mongers in the city.
Pamela Goodchild
12:06 pm on Wednesday, May 18, 2011
I would love to see the Aztec restored to its former glory! Kick out the "tenants" and rent rooms to travelers, reopen the barber shop and coffee shop and make something of the place! (And oh yeah....repaint it!) I sure wish I had the money to do it! We have an old hotel here in Bakersfield that dates back to the 40's. It was restored and several bars, coffee shops and restaurants opened up, and the long-term tenants removed. The place is now doing a booming business on Friday and Saturday nights, has security a dress code, and is renting rooms to travelers.
Phyllis Ferguson
10:43 am on Saturday, May 21, 2011
It would be a sad day to see the Aztec and Brass Elephant close for good. I've heard many great bands there and met many wonderful people some scuzzy ones too, but I must say when Kathy took the place over she did not know everything to do but she did her best, I pray she gets it back and runs with it. I worked there for almost 15 years and I'm very proud that I did.