On Wednesday, May 20, 2015, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to designate Norms La Cienega as an Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM). During the meeting, Councilmember Paul Koretz praised the Googie icon as "a home away from home for many people" and the kind of place that is "not just culturally significant, but culturally uniting."

The Conservancy thanks Councilmember Koretz for his leadership in this effort and his continued commitment to preserving this highly significant building, as well as everyone who wrote in support of the nomination.

I made [Mad Men] with one agenda early on: Stop tearing stuff down. You’re gonna miss it. -- Matthew Weiner, creator of Mad Men

In March 2015, Councilmember Koretz held an impromptu press conference at Norms La Cienega. He was joined by Linda Dishman, the Conservancy's executive director; Matthew Weiner and actor James Darren, longtime Norms customers; Mike Colonna, president of Norms Restaurants; and Norms staff and regulars. It was a great outpouring of support for this Googie icon and the authentic community it has fostered over nearly sixty years. See Matthew Weiner's full comments

The event celebrated the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission's unanimous vote the previous week to recommend HCM designation for Norms La Cienega. Koretz and Colonna spoke in support of designation, and a representative of the property owner said the owner is not opposed to the designation.

Because the building has been designated as an HCM, it will receive more robust protection from demolition and excessive alteration under the City's Cultural Heritage Ordinance.

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