Watch: Landmark Old English Village In Long Beach To Be Destroyed

LONG BEACH, CA — They saved the queen, but there is no hope for Long Beach's merry Old English Village.

The historic piece of Long Beach will be destroyed next week to make way for additional parking and event space near the Queen Mary, according to city officials. The city, which took over stewardship of the Queen Mary to save it from sinking, literally and financially, announced the demolition of the adjacent quirky British-theme business center this week.

Long Beach city officials will host a ceremony on April 28 to commemorate the demolition of the remaining Old English Village structures located at Queens Highway and Windsor Way. The demolition is expected to be finished by May.

The area, also known as Mary's Gate Village, was built in the 1970s and served as a themed shopping center with office spaces. It closed in 2019 and has been vacant ever since.

In March, Long Beach's City Council voted to have the village demolished to make way for a space they believe will help in the economic revitalization and growth of the Queen Mary area.

Demolition of the remaining structures will eliminate existing public hazards and address safety concerns, according to city officials, including the presence of mold and a lack of active fire suppression.

When taking helm of the ship and land in 2021, city leaders set out to build up the surrounding area as a destination.

“I am excited about this once in a generation opportunity to set the course for future preservation and development of our City’s icon,” Councilwoman Cindy Allen said at the time. "We know this is a big undertaking, and we are committed to doing right by our community who hold the Queen Mary dear in their hearts.”

With the upcoming demolition, take one last look at what remains of the Old English Village: