Cherokee Building

The Cherokee Building is a historic two-story commercial structure located at 6630 W. Hollywood Boulevard and 1652 N. Cherokee Avenue in Hollywood, California.

History
The Cherokee Building was built by Norman W. Alpaugh in 1929 and features a Spanish Colonial Revival design. The building was Hollywood's first drive-in business, and it catered to the automobile by having a large motor entrance at the rear of the building where motorists could park and enter, rather than entering from the street.

One of the Cherokee Building's original tenants was a beauty parlor that acted as a front for a Prohibition-era illegal card club and gambling speakeasy. In the 1930s, Gene Austin opened a nightclub in the building, and that business was followed by several bars, including a gay bar. In 1942, the bar changed to Boardner's, whose name has remained ever since.

In 1938, Larry Edmunds Bookshop moved into one of the building's storefronts. The business moved out in 1955. In the 1960s and 70s, several clothing stores popular with rock musicians were located in this building.

In 1972, the building was bought by local business owner Naim "Sy" Amber.

In 1984, the Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment District was added to the National Register of Historic Places, with Cherokee Building listed as a contributing property in the district.

In 1993, the building was sold for $2.76 million.

Architecture


The Cherokee Building was built with concrete in an L-shaped configuration. The building features a Spanish Colonial Revival design, one that includes an elaborate stringcourse, a tiled roof, Moorish arches, a brick patio with a tiled fountain as its focal point, Churrigueresque and wrought iron ornamentation, and ornamental medallions.

Filming location
The Cherokee Building was featured in LA Confidential and Gangster Squad.