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Found Remnants / Architecture

Japanese Administration Building

The Vans restaurant is located at 815 Belmont Avenue on the northern slope of the Belmont hill just above El Camino Real. While often incorrectly identified as having served as one of the two teahouses located at the north end of the Japanese enclave, this structure actually served as the Administration building and stood just south of the building built in the form of a Shinto temple which was called The Golden Pavilion .

The Japanese presence at the PPIE was considerable despite the exclusionary laws which severly restricted the number of Japanese craftsmen and laborers that were permitted to enter the country. Beside furnishing elaborate displays for each of the major exhibit halls, Japan constructed an exotic compound just south of the Palace of Fine Arts containing five large buildings along with two smaller ones arranged around a restful lilly pond and tea garden containing over 4,000 native plants. The first of the foreign “pavilion” to be dedicated, it was in every way a novel and exotic locale, and was visited by more fairgoers than any other foreign site.

Mr. E.D. Swift purchased the Administration building and had it ferried down to Belmont to be used as his residence. In 1923 it became a roadhouse called Elsey’s, achieving local notoriety for its bootlegging operations. Purchased in 1948 by Ivan Swayer, it was converted into a steakhouse and restaurant. Currently owned by Mr. Loring De Martini, it is still operated in that capacity today.

Home——History——Remnants——Appendix——Acknowledgements——Coming——Contact——Links

Found Remnants / Architecture

Japanese Administration Building

My thanks to Carole Peterson for generously providing material from the San Mateo County Historical Association.

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