Coronel Plaza

Antonio Coronel Plaza. A name whispered on the winds of Los Angeles history. Here at Coronel Plaza, we stand on ground steeped in the stories of a bygone era. Coronel Plaza, once a bustling corner of Calle de los Negros, witnessed the dramatic transformation of Los Angeles. This area, presently Los Angeles and Arcadia Streets, was once home to Antonio Franco Coronel, a prominent figure who served as both state treasurer and mayor of Los Angeles. His adobe, a focal point of this plaza, stood as a silent observer to the changing times. In the 1860s, this neighborhood, once home to the city’s elite, transitioned into Los Angeles’s first Chinatown. Coronel’s adobe, a symbol of the area’s past, also bore witness to a dark chapter in the city’s history: the Chinese Massacre of 1871. This tragic event unfolded in the very streets surrounding this plaza. By the 1870s, the plaza found itself amidst a bustling scene. Stagecoaches of the Lafayette Hotel, horse-drawn wagons, and carriages filled the streets. Nearby, businesses thrived. Grocers Caswell and Ellis occupied a two-story brick building. Marjett’s saloon, known for its 5-cent beer, stood on the corner. As the city grew, so did the area around Coronel Plaza. The Pico House, a grand three-story hotel, rose across the street. The plaza, once the heart of a quiet neighborhood, became a crossroads of commerce and culture. The echoes of these stories linger here at Coronel Plaza, a testament to the vibrant and complex history of Los Angeles.