Named for a local business owner and seamstress from the early 20th century, Lulu Carpenter’s, is the oldest building on Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz. Built in 1866, it has also been known as the Compass Rose Building because of the rose-shaped compass that used to be embedded in the adjacent sidewalk.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Mrs. Lulu Carpenter, a local dress designer, operated “Lulu Carpenter’s Dress Shoppe” in the building. Her shop featured dresses, sweaters, suits, and hats made from patterns that she designed.
The building burned in 1936, and it seemed that all traces of her shop were consumed in the fire. It wasn’t until 1977, during renovation for a new bar, that one relic of the dress shop came to light. Beneath the stucco and plywood face of the building, Lulu Carpenter’s storefront sign was found, preserved. The new bar, also called Lulu Carpenter’s, displayed the original sign behind the bar until the business was sold in 1986. The sign was given to the last remaining descendant of Lulu Carpenter.
After the bar closed, the building served as a stockbroker’s office and an art house until the structure was seriously damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake.
In 1992, the building was the first to reopen for business after the quake, when it debuted as Lulu Carpenter’s coffeehouse. The original Lulu Carpenter’s sign was on display inside Lulu Carpenter’s until 2015, when it was returned to the Carpenter family again.
The compass rose, which was once embedded in the sidewalk, was removed and framed. It was on display in the coffeeshop until the mid 2000s when it was removed to make room for a shelf. According to one of the current owners, the “very heavy” historic piece is in storage onsite, but they hope to put it back on display. The next time that you are on Pacific Avenue, stop in for a cup of coffee and maybe even impress a few customers by sharing a nugget of Lulu Carpenter’s history.
Updated August 9, 2016
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Sources Used
- Lulu Carpenter’s, Pacific Avenue location website. Accessed January 2016.
- The Sidewalk Companion to Santa Cruz Architecture by John Chase. Santa Cruz, CA. Paper Vision, 1979.
- Santa Cruz Sentinel. Newspapers.com. March 7, 2004. Web. Accessed January 2016.
- Letter to editor: Lulu Carpenter Sign. Santa Cruz Sentinel. Newspapers.com. March 9, 2004. Accessed January 2016.
- Letter to editor: Lulu Carpenter Sign. Santa Cruz Sentinel. Newspapers.com. March 9, 2004. Accessed January 2016.
- Personal communication with Lulu Carpenter’s manager, Santa Cruz County, January 2016.
Does someone have a photo of the original Lulu Carpenter’s sign?
I am wondering the same thing. I reached out to the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History and unfortunately, they didn’t have one in their possession. I would love to see it!
Lauren Mcevoy isn’t there one on lulu.com some where? Lauren could you maybe look and post a link on fb?
Lulucarpenters website.
I did find one photo but I am not sure if it is the real historic sigh or a recreation. It’s at http://www.lulucarpenters.com/pacific-avenue
Wonderful! Thank you
My pleasure 🙂
Thanks Lauren Mcevoy!
Did I miss the reference to ‘hooch’ in the article?
John Haskey It was a bar from about 1977 to 1986 – also called Lulu Carpenters.
It was a very nice bar beautiful!
Wasn’t it a cigar store before a bar? They sold magazines and news papers from all over the world.
Not sure. We did not see that in our research. But if you come across and newspaper articles or other evidence let us know. Thanks!
Thank you
@Pat Lacey I believe you are referring to United Cigar. They had cigars, fishing tackle and the like. Iconic. Not sure if it’s the same building.
Yes Steve shoemaker it was called the United cigar store.
No ! United Cigar was one door down just past the ally.
So it was torn down after the earthquake
Very interesting. Gotta share. Thank you Jerry!
If those walls could talk I’d be in trouble!
Pat Lacey Jeff CameronSteve Shoemaker Some info here on United Cigar. The MAH link has a photo. http://www.santacruzmah.org/guides/guide-to-the-larry-joslin-20-30-club-collection-unprocessed/history/ The second link some good memories of the shop. https://localwiki.org/santacruz/United_Cigar_Agency
Very interesting, I loved looking through the magazines and I always bought candy and gum from the cigar store. I worked at the cooper house 1971 – 1989.
Fun facts about downtown