Downtown Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Old Winery

circa 1770–1914

— El Pueblo de Los Angeles —

Old Winery Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, December 4, 2018

1. Old Winery Marker

Inscription. Antonio Pelanconi bought this lot in 1871 from wine makers Giuseppe Gazza and Guiseppe Cavacci. It is not known when the Pelanconi Winery, which ran between Alameda and Olvera Streets, was builtbut it was in operation prior to 1875. Pelanconi died in 1879 and his widow Isabel married his partner Giacomo Tononi, who carried on the winery business with Antonio’s son Lorenzo. In 1914 Lorenzo and his mother erected a warehouse on the corner of Los Angeles and Alameda Streets. By 1918 it was known as the Cucamonga Winery. During Prohibition soft drinks were manufactured there. El Paseo Inn moved into a portion of the winery in the 1930s. El Pueblo Park later installed its administrative offices in the remainder of the building.

Erected by El Pueblo de Los Angeles.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1871.

Location. 34° 3.448′ N, 118° 14.272′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Downtown Los Angeles. Marker is on Olvera Street north of the Plaza, on the right when traveling north. It is halfway between Paseo de la Plaza and Chavez Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12 Olvera Street, Los Angeles CA 90012, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are

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within walking distance of this marker. Headquarters of Commander Robert Field Stockton (a few steps from this marker); Sepulveda House (a few steps from this marker); Pelanconi House (a few steps from this marker); Pure Water from Many Sources (a few steps from this marker); Avila Adobe (a few steps from this marker); Zanja Madre (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Avila Adobe (within shouting distance of this marker); Sister Squares (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.

More about this marker. Additional shops, the restrooms, and an ATM are inside. Hallway connects to Alameda Street and the shops there. The walls are lined with historic photographs and drawings of Olvera Street and the plaza in previous years.

Also see . . . Italian American's Legacy In Early L.A. Includes a Sip of Winemaking History. 2011 article by Ed Fuentes on KCET.org. Excerpt:

Then there was Lorenzo Pelanconi, [says Marianna Gatto], who worked as a clerk in the family winery before marrying the daughter of a Southern California Spanish family, Martina Yorba (after whom the Orange County city of Yorba Linda is named). In 1914, he built a portion of what is now known
Photographed By J. J. Prats, December 4, 2018

2. Old Winery and Marker
Marker is to the right of the doors.
as the Old Winery at 845 N. Alameda Street. Today, it is one part El Paseo Inn, another Olvera Street restaurant in a building shared with occasional art space operated by the City of Los Angeles. Pelanconi remained the owner of the winery until 1877, when he sold the business to Antonio Valla and Giacomo Tononi in order to dedicate more time to his ranch in Tropico, which is today named Glendale. A public park and street memorializes his name.

(Submitted on December 21, 2020.)

Historic Photographs and Drawings Like This Line the Walls Inside image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, December 4, 2018

3. Historic Photographs and Drawings Like This Line the Walls Inside

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 21, 2020, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 217 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 21, 2020, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.