Historic auto shop gets new life
Downtown Santa Paula has always seemed just on the edge of happening, says Bob Dawson, owner of recently opened Parque 1055, aptly named for its location on Main Street.
“I’ve owned the building for 20 years. It was various automotive shops since 1929. I’ve always believed in Santa Paula. It’s close to the beach. It’s the perfect place for an outdoor patio,” says Dawson, who spends most days at the California Cuisine–style restaurant even though he’s lived in Camarillo for the past 40 years. He has four children and six grandchildren, and he lost his wife 15 years ago.
During COVID shutdowns, Dawson saw restaurants open outdoors areas and recognized an opportunity. A swimming pool contractor by trade, he decided to create a patio featuring a colorful waterfall accessible (and viewable) from the main dining area and larger, more casual bar through a large rollup door. There is also a fine-dining area with tablecloths, a piano and photos on the walls of historical Santa Paula provided by local historian John Nichols.
“I know subcontractors and they know me,” says Dawson, who offers Parque 1055 as an event space, as well as a restaurant.
During a recent tasting, I met Executive Chef Rafael Lopez and Executive Sous Chef David Alonso as they presented some ideas for the dinner and brunch menus. Chef Lopez had created dishes like mussels with tomatillo salsa, cotija cheese/cilantro and a grilled baguette.
Other offerings were creamy quinoa with a surprisingly bright flavor of broccolini, pistachios, sunflower seeds, onions, carrots, sun-dried tomatoes and parmesan cheese. A crowd favorite was the yellowtail Hamachi with house ponzu, togarashi, masago, cilantro and radish.
“Coastal California Cuisine is a little bit of everything,” says Chef Lopez. “We have access to fresh seafood and local produce.”
Heather Fleming, manager of public relations, marketing and events, says the tasting was exploring more seasonal options. “Everything’s been great so far. We’ve hosted the Chamber of Commerce and we have regulars already,” she says. They are experimenting with other ideas, such as a martini club for customers to enjoy.
Nichols says that the influx of businesses seems to reflect the Limoneira annexation of the Harvest subdivision on the eastern end of Santa Paula. “It looks like that development might be part of this developing of the area going east, with Parque 1055 and right next door Cocina 1912 and a small art center next to that,” says Nichols.
This growth is an addition to the historical retail center of downtown between 8th and 10th streets. “The corner of 10th and Main is the 1890 Union Oil Building. East, past 10th Street on Main, was a more industrial area with packinghouses, a welding shop and auto sales buildings like where Parque 1055 is now. That building was later a tire shop,” says Nichols, adding that the building was originally the Rosenauer & Reynolds Chevrolet Agency, which was constructed between January and April 1929. It was one of three new buildings in the Spanish architecture style by architect Roy C. Wilson at the time.
Dawson says the new restaurant has been warmly received by the City of Santa Paula. “They’re always looking for more people downtown,” he says.
As the chefs tinker with the menu, they explain that they try to source organic food whenever possible. “We go to the Los Angeles farmers’ market and we want to support local farmers,” says Lopez, who studied culinary arts at Santa Barbara City College. He then worked at large hotels such as El Encanto Hotel (sous chef ), the Ojai Valley Inn (chef de cuisine) and Immigrant Son Café (chef ) in Ventura. Alonso says he started at the very bottom—as a dishwasher. He worked at the Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas and eventually Rumfish Y Vino in Ventura.
Parque 1055
1055 E. Main St., Santa Paula
For more information, visit Parque1055.com.
