Developer Revives Two Vintage Buildings in Downtown Ontario

Two Ontario downtown structures that were once written off are now revitalized following an almost $8 million private investment.

The highlight is the 1923 edifice located at the northwest corner of Euclid Avenue and B Street. This historic spot previously accommodated a branch of the Bank of Italy, an institution that later became known as Bank of America. Just to the immediate east along B Street stands a 1912 brick building that initially served as the headquarters for Bumstead Bicycles.

On Tuesday, a modest ceremony took place where historical markers recognizing the buildings' landmark status were put up, courtesy of City Hall and Ontario Heritage. I attended to witness the event.

It had been two years since the previous plaque was installed, and suddenly they were placing two in just one day. "This is what we call efficiency," quipped Gloria Jones, the president of Heritage. This double recognition made perfect sense as both structures are under the ownership of the same individuals.

Alex Baroian and Martin Hovsepian bring expertise in repurposing historic structures. The duo was contacted by City Manager Scott Ochoa, who recognized their contributions in Glendale, where Ochoa served as city manager before his current role.

Beginning around 1960, the two neighboring buildings housed the Richards Beauty College. In 2005, as part of an extensive initiative to acquire more downtown real estate, the city purchased these properties. This acquisition was followed by the demolition of numerous other structures considered unnecessary as the urban redevelopment program commenced.

Local authorities thought that the beauty college buildings possessed charm and were worthy of preservation.

Built in 1923 in the Beaux Arts style at 200 N. Euclid Avenue, this structure initially served as a branch location for the Bank of Italy, which later became known as Bank of America. Following over forty years as a beauty school, the edifice remained unoccupied for approximately twenty years before undergoing recent renovation work to transform it into Mule Car Smokehouse, a new dining establishment. (Image courtesy: David Allen, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Efforts to sell the properties failed to attract buyers, as they had not undergone significant updates for many years and required substantial renovations.

Ontario was informed by several developers that refurbishing them wouldn't be financially viable because of their "negative value," Baroian shared with me. He and his partner acquired them for just $1 and subsequently invested almost $8 million over six years in renovations.

Baroian said with enthusiasm, "Everybody insisted it wasn't possible." He added optimistically, "Fortunately, the city had faith in our ability to make it happen."

What drove them to undertake this project? According to Baroian, City Hall presented an ambitious plan for downtown, which involved constructing multi-level residential units along Euclid Avenue as well as building a parking structure.

"They mentioned they intended to rejuvenate downtown Ontario. Had they not done so, we would have felt like an oasis surrounded by a vast desert," Baroian confessed.

In keeping with their agreement, the city constructed a four-story, 400-space parking facility on C Street at a cost of $9.6 million. The Hutton Companies and Kendrew Development have almost completed a new apartment building containing 140 units on Euclid Avenue between C and D Streets; they're currently accepting lease applications for this project as well. Additional developments are also being planned.

I've been observing this phenomenon for two decades now. Advancements have happened sporadically, often interrupted by events like the Great Recession and the pandemic. Much work remains ahead. However, I believe we may have finally reached a turning point.

Talking about angles, let’s go back to Euclid and B.

The previous bank structure located at 200 N. Euclid Avenue boasts a Beaux Arts design featuring Ionic columns, pilasters, and a garland-style frieze along the rooftop.

Now known as Mule Car Smokehouse, this barbecue eatery accommodates up to 130 guests indoors and over 150 more on its large outdoor terrace with views of Town Square Park. The establishment’s moniker pays homage to the mule-driven tram that once operated along the Euclid center strip during the late 1800s.

A new eatery called El Balcon is set to take over the roof of the building shortly. This could potentially make it the first rooftop restaurant in San Bernardino County.

Juan R. Hernandez from Bravo Signs installed a historical marker on Tuesday onto a building from 1912 located at East B Street in downtown Ontario. (Image courtesy: David Allen, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

At 109 East B Street, the former bicycle store is nearing its launch as both a bottle shop and a speakeasy.

For many years used as storage, the building featured a fake facade devoid of doors or windows. The whole structure was coated in cream-colored plaster, resembling a cake.

Fortunately, for the appeal of the city center, the developers exposed and refurbished the historic brick facades along with the indented entrances.

Following ten years of setbacks in promoting the properties, Baroian turned out to be exactly what the city required: a developer "ready to invest additional funds to maintain the heritage," Councilmember Debra Porada recounted to me over the phone afterward.

I hold him in very high regard," Porada stated. "The bank structure was quite mysterious. It required a sturdy steel framework internally to ensure it could withstand seismic activity. Interestingly, it lacked a proper foundation altogether. He encountered numerous challenges and invested substantial funds. Nonetheless, the end result is impressive.

Obey!

John Carpenter’s film "They Live," released in 1988, tells the story of extraterrestrial beings camouflaged as yuppies who control humanity. The movie includes a hidden message, "Obey," which has evolved into an iconic symbol for resisting authority and a widely shared internet meme.

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"They Live" will be shown at Laemmle’s Claremont 5 at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday (April 29), featuring special appearances from artist Shepard Fairey, known for using "Obey" in his art as a critique of societal norms, and author Jonathan Lethem, who penned a book discussing "They Live." They will conduct a Q&A session following the screening.

Do you want to go? The choice is yours since you have autonomy. (Subliminal message: YES.)

brIEfly

During my visit for breakfast at Joshua Tree’s JT Country Kitchen in late March, I overheard a conversation where a patron at the indoor counter inquired with the cashier regarding the outdoor heaters, which were turned off. The cashier responded humorously, "I won't turn on the heaters since it's between 50 and 60 degrees; that's not chilly." Adding sensibly, she noted, "If anyone feels cold, they could always wear more clothes."

David Allen wears his pants every Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday. Email dallen@scng.com , phone 909-483-9339, and follow davidallencolumnist on Facebook, @davidallen909 on X or @davidallen909.bsky.social on Bluesky.

© 2025 the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, Calif.). Visit www.dailybulletin.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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