One in all California’s most iconic roadside locations closed instantly this week, although visitors trying to find a bowl of break up pea soup may discover it in Buellton once more sometime.
The century-old Pea Soup Andersen’s restaurant and lodge — beloved for its namesake soup, picturesque windmill and Scandinavian-themed eating services — shuttered considered one of its two remaining areas, however in accordance with a number of representatives for the corporate, the Buellton restaurant might return after redevelopment of the positioning.
Pea Soup Andersen’s continues to function its restaurant, market and banquet corridor in Santa Nella, the place staff had been notified Tuesday of the closure of the sibling location, which was first reported by SantaBarbara.com.
A bowl of the chain’s signature pea soup on the Buellton location of Pea Soup Andersen’s in 2017.
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Instances)
“What we all know from our company workplace is that the Buellton location is definitely going to be torn down and rebuilt; I’m unsure how lengthy that’s going to take,” mentioned Santa Nella restaurant supervisor Rose Palomino, an worker of roughly 35 years. “They’ve by no means indicated that we’re going to be closing anytime quickly.… They’re tearing that one [Buellton] down, primarily due to the age; the damage and tear on it’s fairly broken.”
The Buellton location has seen numerous visitors since June 1924.
Denmark-born chef Anton Andersen and his spouse, Juliette, started their beloved restaurant as a roadside cease known as Andersen’s Electrical Cafe, which bought espresso, sandwiches and different gentle dishes. Juliette, from France, excelled in making soups and as demand rose for her break up pea soup particularly, the duo dubbed their restaurant “The Residence of Cut up Pea Soup.”
The Andersens constructed a lodge onto their restaurant and rebranded fittingly. Within the Thirties their son, Robert, joined the household enterprise and helped set up its iconography — together with the restaurant and lodge’s well-known roadside billboards depicting cartoon cooks (Hap-Pea and Pea-Wee) splitting peas with a mallet and chisel.
An exterior of the Buellton location of Pea Soup Andersen’s in 2017.
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Instances)
In 1965 the Andersens bought the property and model to actor and rancher Vince Evans, who expanded the operation to Santa Nella. The model modified palms a number of instances since, however in 1999 Buellton was acquired by Milt Guggia Enterprises, adopted by Santa Nella in 2007. The corporate additionally operates AJ Spurs steakhouses, Cracked Crab seafood eating places, Crumbles Café & Bake Store and a number of different California eating places close to the coast.
“What we all know is it’s briefly closed for redevelopment,” mentioned Milt Guggia Enterprises properties administrator Krista Guggia, who famous that additional particulars are presently unavailable. “So far as our Santa Nella location,” she added, “they may stay open [with] regular enterprise hours and days as all the time.”
The canned break up pea soup discovered on-line, in choose grocery shops and within the Santa Nella restaurant is bought by a separate firm, and won’t be affected by the Buellton closure. Different objects reminiscent of spice blends, Andersen’s-branded Danish cookies, dried soup combine and merchandise can be ordered on-line.