Livermore To Vote On Fate Of Historic Downtown Building

LIVERMORE, CA — A historic Livermore building originally to become a restaurant may instead become a function hall hosting everything from weddings to community gatherings.

On Monday, the Livermore City Council will consider approving a change to the sale agreement for 2324 Second Street, also known as 180 South Livermore Avenue, to allow buyer Michael Messinger to use the space either as a restaurant with a bar or an event center with a bar.

The building was constructed in 1928 as a telephone repeater station for Southwestern Bell, but sat unused for many years, according to a city staff report. In 2021, the city sold it in hopes of preserving its historic character and energizing the downtown. In 2022, the Planning Commission approved Messinger’s original plan to turn it into a restaurant, complete with a rooftop dining patio, raised outdoor seating along the sidewalk, and extensive landscaping.

Mid-construction, Messenger has requested the ability to operate the site as an event center. City staff say the change still meets the goals of Livermore’s Downtown Specific Plan, even though event centers are not explicitly listed as permitted uses in the area. Staff say that a new event space could help meet regional demand for venues, bring more visitors downtown, and avoid an oversaturation of restaurants.

The council will vote to amend the sales agreement, which currently requires the space to operate as a restaurant for at least 12 months. If approved, the new agreement will allow it to be either a restaurant or event center, though it will still need to obtain a Conditional Use Permit.

No changes to the approved building design are planned.

See here for more information, and here for Monday’s full agenda.