Help save the "Top Hat" in Ventura, CA

For years I've been going to this little roadfood place in downtown Ventura called "Top Hat Burger Palace". They have 6 or so worn stools and an old wooden bench to eat at, all on the outside of the dingy little building which can't be more that 8x10 feet. The place itself has been there since 1938. Great pork tenderloin sandwiches, fries, burgers and chili dogs. And who can't appreciate a 35 cent cup of coffee! They are now being threatened by a condo developer who wants to take the parking lot and corner that they sit on. Anyone who can send them a letter (they don't have email) supporting a small roadfood place would be appreciated. It would be a shame to see one more roadfood place go by the wayside. The owner has stated she will not relocate or move into a new building-----and Ventura would lose an institution. Fellow roadfooders, please help!
Their address is:
299 E. Main Street
Ventura, CA 93001

Here is an article about it:
http://www.venturacountystar.com/vcs/dining/article/0,1375,VCS_155_2968052,00.html

It's right off the 101 Freeway, so any of you roadfooders heading up or down the CA coast-----stop for lunch and enjoy!

A pork tenderloin sandwich in California? Wow, I'm going! Thanks, Ed!

Try it with grilled onions!

yet another reason to go to ventura ... , while there , must be sure to go up the coast to The Spot , in carpenteria

I've missed the Spot----what is it? It may wind up to be on my agenda in a few weeks for my weekend in Carpenteria!

Does the owner/operator of the "Top Hat" also own the real estate? i.e. the parking lot and corner that they sit on? 'Cause if they don't, what's to stop the actual owner from selling to the condo developer? What a shame.

Frank

Unfortunately not-----as I undersdtand it, it's a public lot owned by the city of which Top Hat
sits on a tiny corner spot. The city lately has been trying to "revitalize" the downtown------with no consideration for the historical aspect of many of the small businesses there.

This is a very old thread but pork tenderloin sandwich was mentioned.

What is the status of the Top Hat in Ventura? Was it saved, torn down, or what?

I'm actually on my way there-----lunch in 5 minutes! It's in limbo now---they are working with the city to see about relocating. For now, they are still cooking!

EdSails,

Thanks for the update. I may be getting a picture of their pork tenderloin sandwich from one of my field reps.

They were closed when I went by Sunday around 4pm.

It looked kind of deserted, but the building was still there.

Any update? I do have a picture of the Top Hat and its pork tenderloin on my website. It is the one tenderloin I have not tried but took the picture from a high school classmate from 45 years ago. The pork tenderloin pursuit has its benefits--getting reacquainted with old friends.

quote:

Originally posted by EliseT

They were closed when I went by Sunday around 4pm.

It looked kind of deserted, but the building was still there.

They are open Monday thru Saturday 10-7PM.

Hurray! Victory for the little guy? I hope they got a permanent reprieve and are not still in limbo...