In another truly momentous milestone for the revitalization of Broadway, new neon signs that were installed this past week were turned on for the first time — after at least four to five decades of being dark — during last night’s Night on Broadway event that attracted thousands of Angelenos who gathered downtown to celebrate the 7th Anniversary of Councilman Jose Huizar’s Bringing Back Broadway effort. Just last Monday, DTLA Rising first reported that signage was being tested and installed on Clifton’s historic facade as a precursor to a very likely, and much-anticipated, grand opening later this year.

The neon lighting (designed, built, and installed by DTLA-based oneone77 creative studio) turned on as night fell on downtown consisting of red neon lines that framed the five large windows on the second floor overlooking Broadway. In addition, neon signs accented with yellow horizontal lines installed over the main entryway spelled out: “Living History — Clifton’s — Established 1932” inspired by the historic signage that once graced Broadway. To see what Clifton’s looked like 3 years ago, before being restored, click here.

According to an LA Times interview with Clifton’s new owner Andrew Meieran:

There will be distinct venues throughout the building, much of it rarely visited by the public in years past. The basement will house a bar full of historic local relics intended to transport visitors back in time. The ground floor and mezzanine-like second floor will remain a forest-themed cafeteria, with added details such as an old-fashioned soda fountain.

Meieran aims to restore and improve the forest-themed dining hall that generations of Angelenos associate with Clifton’s and continue to serve such traditional cafeteria comfort food as pot roast, mashed potatoes and Jell-O.

The third floor, which most recently held Gay ’90s-themed banquet rooms, is being turned into a sit-down restaurant with classic food, Meieran said, but “not fine dining.” It will also house a museum that he would not describe other than to call it “a cabinet of curiosities.”

The fourth floor — Clifton’s old offices — will get a Polynesian-themed restaurant and bar called South Seas, named after a Clifton’s cafeteria on Olive Street that was popular in the 1940s and 1950s.

Also on that floor will be a second historic-themed bar and restaurant, this one Art Deco style. It’s intended to be an upscale yet casual joint where diners can get a steak or chili.

Photos below by Hunter Kerhart Photography

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