Built in 1929, The Bilicke (as it was then known), was a 7-story mixed use space designed by Morgan, Walls, and Clements, the architecture firm responsible for the Eastern Building a few blocks away and the Mayan Theater downtown – two of LA’s most notable Art Deco landmarks.
Located in one of the most fashionable districts in town for its time, The Arden was once anchored by pioneering cosmetics brand Elizabeth Arden, with its emblematic red door. Two doors down, Perino’s was one of the most iconic restaurants in the Golden Age of Hollywood, known for its upscale dining and celebrity clientele – Mae West was a regular, Bette Davis had a booth on permanent reserve, and Frank Sinatra would come in to play the piano.
In 1959 the building was repurposed into a commercial building occupied by The Southern Federal Savings Bank. Designed by J. E. Dolena, the architect responsible for Walt Disney’s personal estate, its reimagined style reflects the sleek, functional aesthetic of that forward-thinking modernist era.
Inviting you in with its intimate integration of Scandanavian and Midcentury Modern design, The Arden seamlessly harmonizes its legacy of style and legendary graciousness with the energy of today’s Koreatown.
Composed of a lighthearted sandy palette, curving inlets filled with modern furniture, and cozy textures, The Arden offers soft landing from the street with a cordial atmosphere that’s both intimate and sociable.
Balancing warmth with organic blues and brass accents, we’ve designed a place that shows reverence for its storied past, interpreted for modern life.
