Bear is a good fit for the coast

It’s not wise to live in the past, but neither should the past be

forgotten.

And so a return of the Golden Bear, once a hip nightclub that

boasted famous performers such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jethro Tull and

Robin Williams, would be a coup for Surf City.

The Golden Bear first opened in 1922 at 226 Main St. It was called

the Golden Lion then, but it was soon renamed the Golden Bear. In

April 1926, it moved to Pacific Coast Highway, where it sat at the

corner of Main Street for decades, a hot spot for up-and-coming

musicians and comedians.

Now, developers of Pacific City -- a multi-use project slated for

the 31-acre property on Pacific Coast Highway next to the Waterfront

Hilton Beach Resort -- want to bring the old club back to life.

Though a similar plan was tried in 1990 and failed, if done right,

the Golden Bear could be a success for the developer, the city and

residents.

Before the idea of bringing back the Bear, as it was

affectionately called, was hatched, officials at Makar Properties

said they wanted to put a House of Blues-type club there. That is

exactly what the new Bear should be -- a compliment to redevelopment

and a nod to Surf City’s past.

It shouldn’t be a dive, nor should it be a symphony hall. It

should be a hip music venue like the Coach House in San Juan

Capistrano, which lures rising talent.

A club like this would be great for residents and would be exactly

what city leaders hoping to make Huntington a tourist destination

need. It would also add a more sophisticated element to Downtown.

Let’s bring the Golden Bear back and make it the draw it once was.