Blue Bird Tea Room
| Blue Bird Tea Room | |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird Restaurant and Tea Room | |
 Blue Bird Restaurant | |
| Location | Ocean Avenue, between Lincoln St, & Monte Verde St, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California |
| Coordinates | 36°33′17″N 121°55′26″W / 36.55472°N 121.92389°W |
| Built | 1922 |
| Built by | Samuel J. Miller |
| Built for | Mabel C. Sampson |
| Original use | tearoom |
| Current use | Restaurant |
  Blue Bird Tea Room Location in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California  Blue Bird Tea Room Blue Bird Tea Room (California) | |
The Blue Bird Tea Room, also known as Blue Bird, was a historic commercial building in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, United States. Recognized as the oldest tearoom in Carmel, the Blue Bird Tea Room was renowned for its cuisine and ambiance, as well as for hosting after-theatre dinner parties and luncheon and dinner gatherings attended by both local and visiting celebrities. Some of the artists who frequented the tearoom at that time were artist William Ritschel, William Silva, painters Armin Hansen, Paul Dougherty, Paul Whitman, and poet Rem Remsen.[1][2]
History
In 1915, Mae Crawford and Pearl Ridgley established the Blue Bird Tea Room on Camino Real, near Ocean Avenue, during a time when main street was unpaved. The gift shop at the Blue Bird Tea Room offered a selection of cards and gifts for sale. The Blue Bird Tea Room quickly became a popular gathering place for the nearby community.[3] The Blue Bird held an exhibition for artists Mary DeNeale Morgan, Francis S. Dixon, and Bion J. Barnett.[4][5]
On November 12, 1922, the new Blue Bird Tea Room moved to the south side of Ocean Avenue and Lincoln Street, opposite the Pine Inn. Samuel J. Miller supervised the building of the Blue Bird Tea Room as well as other homes in Carmel.[6][7] The Blue Bird sponsored the entertainment to benefit the Carmel Arts and Crafts Theater. Writer Alice MacGowan did a reading of her short stories, director Blanche Tolmie sang some French and Italian folk songs, actor Valentine Mott Porter did a reading, and photographer Johan Hagemeyer talked about his artistic photography.[8]
The restaurant's interior featured a fireplace, comfortable seating, and decor that evoked a sense of luxury and refinement. The Blue Bird Tea Room was known for its impeccable service, attention to detail, and high standards of quality, which earned it a reputation as one of the best restaurants in the area. In addition to its regular menu, the Blue Bird was famous for hosting after-theatre dinner parties, which were attended by many of the local and visiting celebrities who frequented the area. These events were known for their lively atmosphere, and guests would often dance and socialize well into the night. The Blue Bird Tea Room also served as a popular venue for luncheon and dinner gatherings, which were often attended by artists, writers, and other creative individuals who were drawn to the area's cultural scene.[1]
Over the years, the Blue Bird Tea Room underwent several owners, changes, and renovations, but its commitment to excellence and dedication to quality remained unchanged. The restaurant continued to attract a diverse range of patrons, from Hollywood stars to local residents, who were drawn to its unique blend of elegance and charm.[1] Mabel C. Sampson, a Muskegon, Michigan native, arrived in Carmel-by-the-Sea with her teenage daughter in 1924, and reopened the Blue Bird Tea Room at Ocean Avenue. It was the same year that attorney Edward G. Kuster opened the Golden Bough Theatre.[1] She purchased the Normandy Inn on Ocean Avenue in 1937. Sampson played a vital role in both the business and community life of Carmel.[1]
A fire erupted in the chimney of the Blue Bird Tea Room in June 1929, which subsequently spread to the adjacent building's roof. Firefighters managed to contain the fire, and the estimated damage amounted to $500. (equivalent to $8,872 in 2023).[9]
In 1932, the Blue Bird Tea Garden, on Dolores Street, owned by Sampson's daughter, merged with the Blue Bird Tea Room on Ocean Avenue. The Blue Bird Tea Garden was next to The Tuck Box and Garden Shop Addition.[10]
In 1937, Sampson enlarged the Blue Bird to include a new banquet room in the adjacent Wilson building on the corner of Ocean Avenue and Monte Verde. The room was in the back of the building with an entrance from the Golden Bough court, and was used for large dinners featuring Simpson's renowned Buffet Table.[11][5]
Sampson sold the Blue Bird Tea Room in 1939 to Mae Crawford and Pearl Ridgley, originators of the Blue Bird Tea Room.[1][3] In 1941, the Blue Bird was sold to Elizabeth A. Smith, a graduate of Simmons College in Boston.[12]
In 1958, the Monterey Peninsula Hotel Restaurant and Bartenders Union failed to win their 1957 lawsuit against the Blue Bird Restaurant of Carmel, which amounted to $65,150 (equivalent to $706,769 in 2023), which claimed 10 union employees were fired and replaced with non-union workers. The lawsuit was dismissed by Superior Judge Stanley Lawson due to the union's failure to amend its complaint within the legal time frame.[13][14]
By 1964, the Blue Bird Tea Room had transformed into the Scandia Restaurant, located on Ocean Avenue between Lincoln and Monte Verde, serving a variety of Scandinavian and European delicacies. Despite its popularity, the restaurant was not immune to the challenges facing small businesses, and it eventually closed its doors in the early 1990s. However, the building that housed the Blue Bird Tea Room remains an important landmark in the Carmel-by-the-Sea community.[15][2][16]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Mabel Sampson Celebrates 20th Year In Business". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. July 21, 1944. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ a b Dramov, Alissandra (2022). Past & Present Carmel-By-The-Sea. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 37. ISBN 9781467108980. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
- ^ a b "Old Carmelites Return to Blue Tea Room They Began Long Ago". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. May 19, 1939. p. 4. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ "From the Pine Cone Files". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. March 29, 1935. p. 10. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ a b Hale, Sharron Lee (1980). A Tribute to Yesterday: The History of Carmel, Carmel Valley, Big Sur, Point Lobos, Carmelite Monastery, and Los Burros. Santa Cruz, California: Valley Publishers. pp. 33, 96. ISBN 9780913548738. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
- ^ Watkins, Rolin G.; Hoyle, Millard F. (1925). History of Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties, California: Biographical. University of Illinois: S.J. Clarke. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
- ^ Kent L. Seavey (January 29, 2003). "Department Of Parks And Recreation" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
- ^ "New Blue Bird to Devote Opening to Little Theater". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. November 11, 1922. p. 5. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ "Fire On Ocean Avenue Held In Control By Fire Laddies". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. June 7, 1929. p. 1. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ "Blue Bird Tea Garden Merges with Blue Bird". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. December 30, 1932. p. 12. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ "Blue Bird Tea Room to Expand". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. January 29, 1937. p. 7. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ "Elizabeth A. Smith Takes Over Blue Bird". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. November 11, 1941. p. 2. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ "Restaurant Union Loses in Lawsuit". The Californian. Salinas, California. January 23, 1958. p. 5. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ "Firing of 10 Union Members Charged in $65,150 Suit Against Restaurant". The Californian. Salinas, California. October 11, 1967. p. 16. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ "Scandia". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. December 31, 1964. p. 2. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ "Scandia Restaurant invites you to experience holiday dining pleasure". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. December 10, 1992. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
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