2010
Tenth Street

First up is this house located on Tenth Street. We're not sure of the original home's date, but city permits show an addition valued at approximately $5,000 was built around 1947. Though the permits do not indicate what it was used for, they do indicate the expansion was permitted as a "business" addition.

It's readily apparent the 1947 addition did not make any real attempt to complement the Cape-Cod style motif of the original structure, but a recent makeover does help it blend in better.

__________

2010
Main Street

Next up is this house located at the south end of Main Street. City permits show minor alterations taking place on portions of the house in 1947 for use as a "cafe." Later, in 1955/56, a permit was issued for a front addition valued at approximately $11,000. The permit indicates "store" as the intended use for the expansion (though we presume it could have easily been an expansion for the cafe as well).

Although the addition's roof line offers subtle reference to the home's traditional architecture, the flagstone and basic cinder block construction adds a bit of mid-century flair (unintended as it may have been at the time).

__________

Today, design codes are simply too strict to allow such non-conforming additions. And as much as they tend to ruin the architectural motif of the original structure, there's no doubt seeing these "grand-fathered" oddities does add a bit of interest and character to what might otherwise be a monotonous streetscape. It's also one aspect that make parts of Southern California's older established cities -- such as Riverside, Redlands, Fullerton and Pasadena -- a bit more unique than newer master-planned cities and neighborhoods.

Earlier this month, the 102-year-old Seth Thomas pedestal clock, which was damaged last year during the refurbishing of the pedestrian mall, made its way back to downtown Riverside. Though the clock itself dates back to 1908, it didn't appear in Riverside until the 1920s when it was planted outside a jeweler's store on Main Street.

The clock's current location near the corner of Main Street and Mission Inn Avenue (near Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf), sits across the mall and about a half-block north from its previous spot near the former Westbrook's/Imperial Hardware building.

We're not certain when the clock was placed in front of Westbrook's. Some say it was moved there from its original spot elsewhere on Main Street. But a postcard from the 1940s indicates it had been in front of Westbrook's for several decades before being damaged last year by a contractor -- who paid for the repair -- and eventually moving to its current location near Mission Inn Avenue.

Interestingly, based upon old photos, it appears the clock had also been moved several feet toward University Avenue and placed a bit closer to the center of the pedestrian mall at some point while located near Westbrook's.

Related

• Riverside Press-Enterprise - 102-year-old clock returns to Riverside mall (Feb. 13, 2010)

Previous

• RaincrossSquare.com - Second phase of pedestrian mall makeover begins (Jan. 2009)

1940s
Near Westbrook's
(second clock in distance)
(view full postcard)

1953
Near Westbrook's (prior to mall)
RCC yearbook
(view close-up)

1967
On the Mall
North High School
yearbook

2009
Former mall location

2010
Current spot

2010
Refurbished

2007
Slight differences

Simple Simon's, one of downtown's most popular eateries, caught fire around 2 a.m. this past Friday, causing what the owners hope will be only a temporary closure.

Initial reports point to an electrical fire as the possible cause, with damage estimates of roughly $175,000. No major damage was reported in adjacent stores and cleanup has already started on the restaurant.

Known for their gourmet deli sandwiches made with freshly-baked bread, the often crowded eatery and bakery opened on the Main Street pedestrian mall in 1996. It quickly became a favorite among the lunch time crowds, with patrons filling the outdoor tables located on the pedestrian mall between the restaurant and the Mission Inn.

Photos from the 1940s show "1905 Backstrand" stamped atop the building, indicating the building dates back at least 100 years.

According to a 1963 city permit issued for an aluminum facade, the building was still owned by the Backstrand family. It's likely the 1963 facade is the same mid-century style metal screen that adorns the building today.

Related

• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Fire damages Riverside's Simple Simon's restaurant (Feb. 13, 2009)


• InstantRiverside.com - Simple Simon's restaurant damaged in fire (Feb. 12, 2009)

Sunday was a postcard perfect day in Inland Southern California as a week-long sky full of heavy rain and dark clouds gave way to bright sunshine and snow-capped mountains.

The picturesque views evoked colorful scenes from the days when the navel orange industry -- and imagery made popular by Sunkist marketing -- dominated the region's landscape.

Slideshow: Out & About

Redlands

Riverside

Crowds flocked to the new Fox Performing Arts Center in downtown Riverside this past weekend to catch an inside look at the newly-renovated facility following a 3-year, $32 million renovation.

Friday night was the grand opening, fund-raising gala while Saturday and Sunday were open house days. Judging by the looks on the faces of those who attended, no one walked away disappointed. This coming weekend will be the center's first official event -- two nights of Sheryl Crow.

Make no mistake, this was an extensive -- and expensive -- top-to-bottom, inside-and-out renovation. No detail was left undone. And as a result, the Fox is now a first-class music and Broadway-caliber venue. And one that Riverside -- and Inland Southern California as a whole -- can indeed be proud of.

Will the Fox make money? Most likely not. Will the Fox require subsidies? Most likely so. But that's not the point. Libraries, museums and parks also are not self-sustaining facilities. Neither are most convention centers and sports venues. However, cities don't build cultural facilities to directly make money, but instead, to enrich the lives of their citizens.

So get out there and enjoy the new Fox.

Flash: Fox: May 2007 - Jan. 2010

Update: A recent entry on the LA Times "Culture Monster" blog digs into some of the renovation's details: A Riverside movie palace is reborn (Jan. 26)

Related

• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Riverside's Fox theater gets a glorious grand opening (Jan. 16) | Tours offer peek inside renovated Fox theater in Riverside (Jan. 17)


• InstantRiverside.com - Riverside's Fox Performing Arts Center opens; renovation finished (Jan. 16) | Go inside Riverside's Fox Performing Arts Center; the Fox is new again (Jan. 17)


• Fox Performing Arts Center | Broadway in Riverside

Previous

• RaincrossSquare.com - Open house at the Fox (May 2007) | Fox Theater restoration moving along (June 2009) | Riverside's Fox Theater restoration in pictures (Nov. 2009) | Get into the Fox (Jan. 2010)

2010
Box office

2010
Main lobby

2010
Balcony

2010
Back stage

2010
Lobby

2010
Theater

2010
Upper lobby

2010
Ceiling

2010
Fox Performing Arts Center


1930s
Fox Riverside

Located at the intersection of Mission Inn Avenue and Market Street, the 1,642-seat Fox Center is the crown jewel of Riverside's 5-year, $1.6 billion "renaissance" public works plan. At just over $32 million, the complete renovation -- including Broadway-caliber staging -- of the 1929-era Fox is also one of the most expensive projects in the 5-year plan, which began in late 2006.

Friday evening Jan. 15 marks the official opening of the new center with the "Fox Foundation Inaugural Gala," a $150-ticket special event intended to show off the Fox as well as begin the process of establishing a community endowment to assist in maintaining and operating the new performance center.

(For those unable to attend the gala, free tours are scheduled for the weekend of Jan. 16-17.)

We're excited to see the completion of the Fox, which we see as an important catalyst in the overall revival -- and long-term success -- of downtown and Riverside in general. There's no doubt that within the past decade, downtown has finally established a relatively healthy critical mass of arts and entertainment offerings, to which the Fox will now be added.

However, as community leader Daniel Foster points out, it will certainly take more than just the Fox, the Mission Inn, local museums and the still emerging restaurant and arts scenes. It will take the synergy and richness of all these -- and those still on the horizon, including institutions from both UCR and RCC as well as higher density office/residential development -- to continue the successful turnaround of downtown.

But above all, it will take area residents, both of Riverside and the immediate region, to begin supporting our own local shops, restaurants, museums and arts institutions, many of which are indeed unique to Southern California.

Update

• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Fox theater gala, tours set this weekend in Riverside (Jan. 14)


• InstantRiverside.com - Weekend tours of renovated Fox Performing Arts Center will be free (Jan. 14)

Related

• Riverside Press-Enterprise - The road to Riverside's Fox theater's new red carpet | Video | Photos: Fox Renovated | Photos: Fox Historic | Special Section (Jan. 10)


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Mission Inn owner Duane Roberts to head Fox theater's foundation board | Video (Jan. 9)


• InstantRiverside.com - The Fox Theater renovation (Sept. 2009)


• City of Riverside - Fox Performing Arts Center | Riverside Renaissance - Fox


• Nederlander - Broadway in Riverside

Previous

• RaincrossSquare.com - Open house at the Fox (May 2007) | Fox Theater restoration moving along (June 2009) | Riverside's Fox Theater restoration in pictures (Nov. 2009)

2010
From Mission Inn Avenue

2010
Opening Gala

2010
Sheryl Crow

2010
Exterior details

2010
Along Mission Inn Avenue

2010
Main entry

2010
Main entry

2010
Exterior details

On Saturday evening, we spent a couple hours browsing and shopping during the annual 'Festival of Lights' in downtown Riverside, snapping a few photos -- and finding a few nice surprises along the way.

First, it was great to once again see the storefront windows -- decorated and lit up for the holidays -- for the long-shuttered Westbrook's / Imperial Hardware building. We're hoping the windows remain on display following the holidays (possibly for historical/museum displays ... ?).

Second, the newly opened 3rd floor for Mission Galleria offered sweeping views of the pedestrian mall below.

And finally, it was nice to see fresh art sculptures (one | two) along the pedestrian mall near UCR/California Museum of Photography.

We found the newly refurbished pedestrian mall to work quite well with the large crowds, particularly alongside the Mission Inn. The new layout allowed for a larger ice rink and a larger events stage.

The Festival of Lights includes an ice rink, carriage rides, carolers, shopping, food, entertainment -- and Santa Claus. Oh, and of course, the centerpiece is the historic Mission Inn decorated with over 3.5 million lights and hundreds of animated displays.

The event runs daily (excepting Christmas) through January 3.

Slideshow: Out & About

Related

• Festival of Lights


• Mission Inn

With a hotel as unique and eclectic as the Mission Inn, it's no wonder many actors, artists and writers have found the place invigorating and inspiring. Among them include Will Rogers, Paul Newman, Jack Lemmon, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Zona Gale and Carrie Jacobs Bonds. On Saturday, yet another name was added to the list: best-selling author Anne Rice.

Best known for her Vampire Chronicles books, which includes "Interview with the Vampire," Rice used the Mission Inn as a backdrop for her latest book, "Angel Time." The book is the first in a new series entitled, "Songs of the Seraphim." (Book two, which is yet to be published, is also set at the Mission Inn.)

Rice, who hails from New Orleans but now resides in nearby Rancho Mirage (Palm Springs), first visited the Mission Inn shortly after moving to Southern California in 2006. It was on her first visit to the Inn in which the author says she "fell in love" with the hotel and decided to use it as a setting for her upcoming series.

As part of the book's recent release, Rice returned to the Mission Inn on Saturday to sign copies of the new book. While there, the Inn's Amistad Suite (aka the "Bridal Suite") -- a key location in both the book's writing and its setting -- was dedicated to Rice, who now shares the distinction with author Anne Cameron. (Btw, the Amistad Suite was also actor Paul Newman's favorite room while staying at the Mission Inn whenever he raced or visited the now-gone Riverside International Raceway.)

On the Mission Inn as inspiration, Rice had this to say:

Which reminds us of similar sentiments written by Will Rogers after staying at the Mission Inn for several days in 1934:

Related

• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Author Anne Rice finds inspiration at the Mission Inn for new series | Q&A with Anne Rice on 'Angel Time' | Q&A Video (Dec. 2009)


• USA Today - California bridal suite stars in Anne Rice's 'Angel Time' (Nov. 2009)


• AnneRice.com


• MissionInn.com


• Los Angeles Times - Riverside's Mission Inn big on tradition and history (Nov. 2009)

Recently, local historian Hal Durian's weekly "Riverside Recollections" column spotlighted several local history books, including the very popular photo history books from Arcadia Publishing.

The Arcadia series includes several topics, including Images of America, Postcard History Series, Then & Now, Black America Series, Images of Sports, and Campus History Series.

Locally, several communities have been profiled in the Arcadia series, including: Riverside, Corona, Norco, Jurupa, Rubidoux, Moreno Valley, Hemet, San Jacinto, Menifee, Murrieta, Temecula, Palm Springs, San Bernardino, Redlands, Loma Linda, Montclair, Fontana, Rialto, Colton, Crestline, Lake Arrowhead, and Big Bear.

Several cities, such as Riverside, even have multiple books: Riverside 1870-1940, Riverside in Vintage Postcards, Riverside - Then & Now, Riverside's Mission Inn, Riverside's Camp Anza & Arlanza, and Arlington.

There are also a number of single-topic books: Norconian Resort, March Air Force Base, Kaiser Steel, Fontana, The Harris' Company, Lake Mathews & Gavilan Hills, and Temecula Wine Country, and Route 66 in California.

Beyond the Arcadia books, which offer mostly a cursory review of local history in a quick, easy-to-digest visual format, there are several other local history books of Riverside to take note of.

In particular, local author Joan H. Hall has done great work documenting several aspects of Riverside. Her "Adobes, Bungalows and Mansions of Riverside, California - Revisited" (with co-author Esther H. Klotz) and "Cottages, Colonials and Community Places of Riverside California" are two of the best such works, offering insight on many of Riverside's homes, buildings and sites.

Hall has also wrote (and/or co-authored) several other important local histories, including "A Citrus Legacy," "Through the Doors of the Mission Inn," "Pursuing Eden," and "History of Citrus in the Riverside Area."

Along with Hall's many books, two other books are worth noting for their more in-depth look at local history: Steve Lech's, "Along the Old Roads -- A History of the Portion of Southern California that Became Riverside County, 1772-1893," which gives background information for communities of Riverside County; and the late Tom Patterson's, "A Colony for California," which is a loose collection of both factual and anecdotal accounts of Riverside's first one hundred years (1870-1970).

Most of these books are found at area museums and many local shops, plus Barnes & Noble and Borders bookstores. They can also be found on Amazon.com (click here for direct links to each book). And of course, the Arcadia books can also be found at Arcadia Publishing.

Related

• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Discover Riverside's history in Arcadia book series (Nov. 29)

City of Riverside

The centerpiece of the Festival is the historic Mission Inn hotel, which will again be adorned with over 3.5 million holiday lights and hundreds of animated figures.
Along with the lights are an ice rink, carriage rides, carolers, shopping, food, entertainment -- and Santa Claus. Nearby shops and restaurants usually offer extended hours during the festival.

Friday, Nov. 27th is the event's official kick-off, which includes a special "switch on" ceremony and fireworks show that begins just after 6:00 p.m.

Parking for the nightly event is available in 4 municipal parking garages and on nearby streets (with free parking at all locations after 5 p.m. and all day on the weekends/holidays).

What originally began in 1993 as a hotel-only event has since grown to include city sponsorship, spreading to nearby shops and adjacent blocks. It has become one of America's largest holiday light displays.

Update

• KABC-TV - Festival of Lights kicks off in Riverside (Nov. 28)


• InstantRiverside.com - Festival of Lights begins in downtown Riverside (Nov. 28)


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Mission Inn lights up the night in Riverside | Photo Gallery (Nov. 28)

Related

• City of Riverside - Festival of Lights


• Mission Inn - Festival of Lights


• InstantRiverside.com - Riverside's Festival of Lights Friday evening (Nov. 25) | 2009 Downtown Riverside Window Decorating Contest (Nov. 16) | Festival parking guide


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - The historic Mission Inn begins Festival of Lights preparation (Oct. 19)

Riverside's Fox Theater:
An Intimate Portrait
Michael J. Elderman

Hired by the restoration's project manager to visually capture the massive renovation of the Fox, Elderman soon realized he had the makings for a book. As such, he began planning "Riverside's Fox Theater: An Intimate Portrait," a new, self-published book of his that is expected to become available in mid-December (just in time for January's debut of the new Fox).

On Monday night, Nov. 9th, a photographic exhibit based upon the book will open at La Sierra University with a reception at the university's Brandstater Gallery beginning at 6 p.m. In addition to Elderman's exhibit, the reception will include related discussions and presentations.

Admission to both the reception and exhibit, which runs through December 10th, is free. The university is located at 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, about a mile north of the 91 Freeway in southwestern Riverside.

In mid-December, Elderman's exhibit will shift to the Riverside Art Museum in downtown Riverside, where Elderman plans to offer the Fox book for sale during a special book signing event.

The nearly $30 million renovation of the Fox Theater is part of the city's $1.68 billion "Riverside Renaissance" plan, which includes everything from railroad grade separations and general city infrastructure (roads, sewers, etc.) to new/refurbished parks and cultural amenities.

Update

• InstantRiverside.com - Fox Performing Arts Center book by Michael Elderman nearly complete (Dec. 2009)

Related

• Michael J. Elderman photography


• La Sierra University - Riverside's Fox Theater: Illuminated Process


• Riverside Renaissance - Fox Performing Arts Center


• Riverside Art Museum


• Broadway in Riverside


• InlandArts.com


• InstantRiverside.com - The Fox Theater renovation (Sept. 2009)

Previous

• RaincrossSquare.com - Fox Theater restoration moving along (June 2009)

This week found us taking a stroll along downtown's Main Street pedestrian mall during a workday lunch, where we encountered others also taking in the fall-like weather.

Further up, we noticed both the main entrance and several windows on the former Westbrook's / Imperial Hardware store are now on display for the first time in several years. They had been boarded up for at least the past decade, if not longer.

The sidewalk around the building's foundation has been chipped away in preparation for the pedestrian mall's new surface. It appears a new header has also been put into place. Does this mean the building -- which dates back to 1900, but has sat empty since the 1970s -- is finally about to see a new tenant?

Although Imperial's former false front is no match against Westbrook's 1935 art deco facade, we admit to somewhat missing its mid-century starkness (here's a view from 1967), which covered the building's front from about 1964 until 2007. Regardless, we hope the improvements signal life is once again stirring within the building.

Moving on ... the second phase -- between University and Sixth -- of the makeover for 1966-era pedestrian mall* is nearing completion. This week, crews were busy working on the new mall crossing at Mission Inn Avenue. (The first phase, completed earlier this year, took in the mall's southern blocks between University and Tenth.)

Nearby, a crossing for a soon-to-be water feature is now in place while new pavers, ground plantings and lighting are also being completed. We have mixed feelings on the new lighting. By no means terrible, but also not very unique. Certainly not as unique at the original raincross lights. (We're told they're being salvaged by the city -- for what, we do not know. Let's hope they get shipped off to the city museum as opposed to the landfill.)

The pedestrian mall is expected to be completed in time for this year's "Festival of Lights" on which the months-long work has already started.

Slideshow: Out & About

* Courtesy of Ruhnau, Ruhnau & Clarke

Above is a view of Main Street in downtown Riverside looking south* toward Tenth from Ninth. The view, from approximately 1963/64, is just prior to the construction of the Main Street pedestrian mall (a), which opened in 1966 and stretches north from Tenth to Sixth.

At left is Gordon's (here's a different view). According to its sign, Gordon's has been in business since 1905.

Just out of view on the immediate left (adjacent to Gordon's) would be F.W. Woolworth. It opened on the SE corner of Ninth and Main in 1940. We're not sure when the store closed, but according to this 1967 view looking north toward Ninth from Tenth (nearly the opposite view of the postcard), it appears to have remained open at least until the late 1960s (here's a close-up view).

Prior to Woolworth's, the corner was home to the Rowell Hotel, which opened in 1887. In 1902, the Rowell became the Reynolds Hotel upon being purchased by George N. Reynolds who operated a department store directly across Ninth Street in the 3-story Reynolds Building. That building, which later housed Montgomery Ward (1934 - 1966) and Pic 'N Save (b) (until about 1970), was built in 1900. It was demolished in the early 1980s and replaced by a small parking lot. (The site is being used as staging area during the refurbishment of the former Rouse Building into UCR's Culver Center of the Arts.)

Back to the postcard ... hanging above the third car on the right is the black & white "Piano & Organ" sign for Cheney's Music. It opened on Main Street in 1944 where it remained until moving in 1970 to the Tyler Mall (now Galleria at Tyler). Owned by Warren W. Cheney, the store remained in business at the mall until the early 1980s.

A bit farther down on the right can be seen 4001 Main Street (Tenth and Main), which once housed the Security Investment Company (here's a more recent view). Also seen is the crane used during construction of the 8-story Citizen's/Crocker Bank (c). It was downtown's first modern, mid-rise office building when it opened in 1965 (here's a more recent view).

Today, if one were to stand in the same location as the postcard, their view would be blocked by City Hall, which replaced the businesses on both sides of the pedestrian mall (Main Street) between Ninth and Tenth streets in 1975.

For those interested, here's the back of the postcard, which was mailed to W. Medford, Mass in 1967.

* Postcard incorrectly states the view as being toward the north, but in reality, you're looking south
(a) Courtesy of Ruhnau, Ruhnau & Clarke
(b) Courtesy of RPD Remembers
(c) Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce

1979
Advertisement
GRCC


1976
Security Pacific Plaza (top left)
GRCC


1906
Citizens Bank
Eighth and Main (NE corner)
(Evans Building; former
Orange Growers bank)
RFD


1916
Citizens National Bank
Eighth and Main (SE corner)
(former First National Bank
of Riverside building)


1941
Citizens NT&SB
Eighth Street (Univ. Ave.) expansion
(directly behind 3800 Main Street)


1958
Architect's rendering of
exterior remodeling for
Security First National Bank
at 3800 Main Street


1964
Security First National Bank
(post-1958 facade makeover)


1971
Architect's rendering of
Security Pacific Plaza


2007
California Tower


2008
California Tower

In April 1973, Security Pacific National Bank (SPNB) opened an 11-story branch/office tower** in downtown Riverside to house the bank's rapidly-growing Inland Division headquarters. The division was the result of several local bank acquisitions and consolidations spanning 50 years, the last being when Security First National Bank (the forerunner to SPNB) acquired Riverside-based Citizens National Trust & Savings Bank.*

At the time of the 1957 acquisition, Citizens Bank had grown into the largest Inland-based bank and one of the largest locally-owned banks in California outside of San Francisco, Los Angeles or San Diego:

Founded by Riverside businessman S.H. Herrick, Citizens Bank of Riverside opened in June 1903 with $50,000 in capital and nearly $15,000 in deposits, this according to a Press-Enterprise report on the bank's 50th anniversary in 1953.

(By 1953, deposits had grown to $105 million. Incidentally, two of the bank's initial commercial customers were the then-separate newspapers, Riverside Press and Daily Enterprise.)

Originally located at the northwest corner of Ninth and Main streets in downtown, the bank soon expanded, adding an Arlington branch in 1904.

By 1907, shortly after acquiring Riverside-based Orange Growers National Bank and increasing its capital to $150,000, Citizens Bank gained its national charter, becoming Citizens National Bank of Riverside. That same year, Citizens also established a separate bank -- Security Savings Bank -- at the southwest corner of Seventh (now Mission Inn Ave.) and Main streets. This new "savings" affiliate allowed the bank to expand into other lending areas that were restricted by its national charter.

Upon acquiring Orange Growers, Citizens moved from its original home at Ninth and Main streets into Orange Growers' much more stately Evans Building located at the northeast corner of Eighth and Main streets. The building -- one of Riverside's most ornate early buildings -- began life in 1891 as Riverside National Bank, which had closed during the national banking panic of 1893.

In 1916, Citizens Bank grew again by acquiring First National Bank of Riverside (not to be confused with the long-closed Riverside National Bank from 1891). Upon the acquisition, Citizens again moved into the former bank's much larger, 4-story building located directly across the street at 3800 Main. The move allowed Citizens' affiliate -- Security Savings Bank -- to move from Seventh and Main into the Evans Building, thereby giving Citizens two prime corners of Eighth (now University Ave.) at Main streets.

Between 1933 and 1957, Citizens continued growing while acquiring several local banks, including those in the cities of Corona, Hemet, Banning and Apple Valley. During this time, Citizens also expanded its branch network in Riverside as well as throughout the Inland region, including Barstow, Blythe, Cathedral City, Colton, Fontana, Highland, Loma Linda, March AFB, Palm Springs, Perris, Redlands, Rialto, Rubidoux, San Bernardino, Twentynine Palms and Yucaipa.

In the early 1940s, Citizens enlarged its downtown headquarters at Eighth and Main by expanding east along Eighth Street (University Ave.). The expansion took place directly behind the bank's 3800 Main Street building on the site of the former Covert Building, which was demolished due to structural issues.

In 1954, Citizens consolidated its separate Security Savings Bank affiliate into the parent bank, thereby relinquishing the Evans Building across the street on the NE corner of Eighth and Main. (The Evans Building itself was torn down in 1964, leaving a small parking lot that exists to this day.)

Upon its 1957 purchase by Security First National Bank (soon-to-become SPNB in 1967), Citizens' president -- Elden Smith -- described the bank's 54 years of local service as stemming from its philosophy of being "small enough to know you, large enough to serve you, strong enough to protect you." And although Citizens had grown into one of the larger banks in California -- and at the time listed as the 135th largest in the nation -- Smith foresaw the increasing dominance of the much larger national banks:

Having strong allegiance to both Riverside and the Inland region, Mr. Smith was instrumental in making the newly-absorbed Citizens Bank an autonomous division within the much larger Security First National Bank. As such, the Inland branches were known for several years as the Citizens Division of Security First National Bank.

(Mr. Smith's allegiance to downtown Riverside was later honored via the Elden Smith Memorial Fountain installed on the Main Street Pedestrian Mall directly in front of the former Citizens Bank HQs. However, the fountain was removed during the mid-1990s: 2007 | 2009)

In 1958, shortly after the acquisition, the division HQ at 3800 Main Street was remodeled inside and out. The mid-century designs -- ground marble aggregate and Byzantine tiles -- of Los Angeles-based architect Welton-Beckett remain apparent today (one | two | three).

Later, after the passing of Smith, the regional branch network continued growing, eventually becoming the Inland Division of Security Pacific National Bank. It would move its local headquarters (in 1973) into the aforementioned 11-story bank tower in downtown Riverside, which sat diagonally across the street from the previous headquarters building at 3800 Main Street.

Officially known as Security Pacific Plaza, the new building -- and soon-to-be adjacent parking structure -- took up an entire city block on the west side of the Main Street Pedestrian Mall between Seventh Street (now Mission Inn Ave.) and University Avenue. Previously, the block contained several smaller structures, including Riverside's oldest brick building -- the B.D. Burt & Bros. store located at the NW corner of Eighth (now University Ave.) and Main streets.

For nearly 20 years thereafter, Security Pacific National Bank grew into the Inland region's primary "national" bank, with its Inland Division playing an important role in local civics and philanthropy. However, in April 1992, both Riverside and the Inland region lost one of its primary corporate operations when Security Pacific National Bank merged into Bank of America.

At the time, it was the largest bank merger in the nation, as both California-based banks -- SPNB in Los Angeles and BofA in San Francisco -- formed the nation's then-largest bank. (BofA has since merged again with Charlotte-based NationsBank, which is today's "new" Bank of America, again one of the nation's largest.)

The 1992 merger removed the Security Pacific Bank name from the nation's banking landscape as numerous SPNB and BofA branches were consolidated. In most cases, the SPNB branch closed and accounts were transferred to the nearby BofA branch. In some cases, however, the opposite took place with the SPNB being re-signed as a BofA. Many of the remaining SPNB branches became expansion opportunity for other banks.

In 2004, the "security" name returned to Riverside's banking landscape as a new bank, with ties back to the local offices of Security Pacific National Bank, was formed. The bank, which has a similar name -- Security Bank of California -- has its main office in downtown Riverside, with branches in Redlands and San Bernardino.

Today, Citizens' former downtown Riverside HQ is home to UCR's Sweeney Art Gallery while SPNB's Security Pacific Plaza tower is now known as the California Tower, housing several state offices, various street-level businesses and one bank -- First National Bank of Southern California (itself formerly known as Inland Empire National Bank). The former SPNB branch located at the base of the tower sat vacant for a few years before becoming a series of restaurants, the most recent being Phood on Main. (The bank's old vault remains visible on the outside patio area.)

So, the next time you visit your Inland branch of Bank of America, you might just be stepping into a former Security Pacific National Bank branch, which itself, could very well trace its heritage back to Riverside's Citizens National Trust & Savings Bank.
__________

* Riverside's Citizens NT&SB bears no relation to a Los Angeles-based bank of the same name that moved into the Riverside region during the early 1960s. That bank, which opened Riverside's first modern, multi-story office tower in 1965 -- an 8-story building located at Eleventh and Main -- eventually became part of the now-defunct Crocker Bank, itself later absorbed into Wells Fargo.
** 1973 - PE
__________

Below are recent photos of all nine former Security Pacific National Bank branches within Riverside as listed in a 1979 advertisement from a Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce publication, three of which are current BofA branches (including the 4601 La Sierra Ave. branch, which was a replacement SPNB branch for 4860 La Sierra Ave.).

2009
3773 Main Street
Riverside Main Branch
(Security Pacific Plaza)

2009
6370 Magnolia Ave.

2009
5030 Arlington Ave.

2009
3421 Fourteenth St.

2009
1680 University Ave.

2009
9380 Magnolia Ave.

2009
6370 Van Buren Blvd.

2009
8100 Auto Drive
(demolished)

2009
4860 La Sierra Ave.
(demolished)

2009
4601 La Sierra Ave.
(relocated 4860 SPNB branch)

Earlier this week, seven downtown area restaurants again rolled out the red carpet to showcase the city's growing collection of unique dining establishments as part of the second annual Riverside Restaurant Week.

The event, which has expanded to 2 weeks, began this past Sunday night with a special fund-raising event for local arts at the Riverside Municipal Auditorium.

Sponsored by the Riverside Greater Downtown Fine Dining Group, patrons will be able to experience -- at very reasonable prices -- upscale culinary delights and one-of-a-kind atmospheres not found at the major "chain" restaurants. For the event, each establishment will offer a specially selected, three-course meal for $20 (lunch) and $35 (dinner).

Those who enjoy a meal and get their "restaurant passport" stamped at each of the seven establishments will be eligible for a drawing to be held during a special event at the Mission Inn -- in the catacombs, no less -- on October 25th. The prize is an escorted "tasting tour" that includes a "progressive dinner" stop at each restaurant. Afterward, the winner and their three guests will end the night with complimentary rooms at the downtown Marriott.

The seven participating restaurants are: Café Sevilla, Ciao Bella Ristorante, Mario's Place, Mission Inn Restaurant, Olio Ristorante, Restaurant Omakase, Saffron.

The "week" lasts through Saturday October 10th.

So, get out and get downtown!

Related

• Riverside Greater Downtown Fine Dining Group


• InstantRiverside.com - Seven Riverside restaurants offer fixed-priced dining (video)


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Riverside Restaurant Week begins with a gala (gallery)