by Once said to hold covert poker games run by Al Capone, one of San Diego’s oldest surviving structures has embarked on a daring new chapter.
The 138-year-old Victorian Italianate building at Fifth Avenue and Island in the Gaslamp Quarter, which was once known as the Leland Hotel, has undergone extensive restoration and reopened as The Beau, a boutique hotel and meeting spot that proudly honors its vibrant past while boldly embracing the future.
The three-story structure was first known as the Rand-Pauly Building when it was constructed in 1886 by early San Diego developers D.C. Reed and Aaron Pauly. Commercial tenants occupied the ground floor, while the Leland Hotel occupied the upper floors. The region was still known as New Town San Diego at the time, which is very different from the busy entertainment sector that is now the Gaslamp Quarter.
The building changed with the times over the decades. Much of its historic appeal was lost in the 1950s when it underwent a remodeling project that included stucco over the brick facade and the removal of elaborate window moldings. However, beneath the surface, the original building’s bones were still present.
However, the once-grand building had become dilapidated by the late 1990s. A. Leon Herrick, a preservationist, bought the home in 1999 and started renovating it. In honor of his ancestral family’s home in Leicestershire, England, which Queen Elizabeth I had given to the Herricks in 1595, he christened it Beaumanor. At first, he concentrated on structural maintenance and seismic retrofitting.
Leon’s daughter, Cathy Herrick, a trailblazing preservationist in her own right, took over the role when his health deteriorated.
According to Cathy Herrick, that was my dad’s favorite building. I didn’t want the family to be apart. I had the impression that I was protecting not just a structure but also his legacy.
As the sole female redeveloper in the Gaslamp Quarter and the custodian of ten nationally registered, award-winning properties, she has emerged as one of the district’s most influential figures in historic preservation. Her name, which recognizes her continuous contributions to the neighborhood’s revitalization, is inscribed at the base of the Gaslamp Quarter Arch at Fifth and L.
She formally acquired the Beaumanor building in 2010, and in 2023 she began a $5 million restoration project to restore the home to its splendor of the 19th century. The ground floor restaurant and bar, the rooftop secret garden, and all fifty-two of the original hotel rooms were fully restored as part of the makeover.
Finding the time and mid-century trends that had been buried took up a large portion of the job. After being concealed for more than 70 years, the original masonry was meticulously uncovered. Windows and fittings that were appropriate for the time period were put back in. Some bricks were even chosen to mimic the historic materials from Coronado’s PB&Y Co.
The Bar at the Beau, which debuted in May, is the restoration’s crown gem. The room combines subtle elegance, gentle lighting, and dark, gilded accents. The original 1886 rear bar is still there, with a Carrera stone countertop that has underlighting and gold leaf filigree as accents.
Cathy Herrick claims that the basement level of the structure, currently known as Smuggler’s Alley, was formerly a speakeasy during the Prohibition era. Secret poker games were allegedly held there by none other than Al Capone.
She claimed that it was a speakeasy, a secret location with a unique vibe. We have now revived it in spirit as well as appearance.
Curated photos and archive images within The Beau trace the property’s lengthy history, from its roots in the Gilded Age to its involvement in Prohibition to its mid-century makeover. The original Leland Hotel before its renovation in the 20th century is depicted in one vintage image.
The drink menu at the bar honors such complex history. Drinks like the 1886 Old Fashioned and the Night Porter, a strong espresso martini that pays homage to the building’s storied late-night history, are available for guests to order.
Get neighborhood news in your inbox. It’s free and enlightening.
Become one of the 20,000+ individuals who receive breaking news alerts and the Times of San Diego in their inbox every day at 8 a.m.
Weekly updates from San Diego communities have also been provided! You acknowledge and agree to the terms by clicking “Sign Up.” Choose from the options below.
Executive Chef Robin James (previously of Top of the Market) oversees the kitchen, which serves sophisticated American comfort cuisine. While small plates such Beef Cheek with crispy chickpeas and Chilled English Pea Soup provide creative touches, signature meals include Duck Pot Pie, Braised Pork Shank, and Whole Roasted Branzino. Desserts include a classic Pineapple Upside Down Cake and a fun Beau Sundae.
Brandi Evans, director of Food & Beverage, is in charge of hospitality. She provides leadership expertise from the Las Vegas restaurant industry, the San Diego Padres, and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Her influence guarantees a refined and customized experience.
The Beau is still managed by a family. Evan Anderson, Cathy’s son, is currently the Executive Vice President of her company and is in charge of managing several aspects of their hospitality portfolio, including this one. In order to ensure that the building reflects the vision of three generations, staff members report directly to him.
A milliner and dressmaker, a tailor, a moving and transfer company, an insurance office, and even an undertaker have all occupied the building over the years. Now, some 140 years after its inception, it functions as a meeting spot once more, but this time with a fresh sense of purpose and style.
Restoring According to Cathy Herrick, the Beau was never solely focused on business. It was about paying respect to the past, my father, and this community that has provided us with so much.
Perhaps this updated version would be even more appreciated by Al himself.
