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Article: New owner set to give major makeover to Friars Club.(Up Front)
- Article from:
- Los Angeles Business Journal
- Article date:
- July 12, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 CBJ, L.P. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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A legendary vestige of Old Hollywood is about to get a makeover.
The Friars Club, the exclusive showbiz hangout in Beverly Hills founded 58 years ago by Jack Benny and George Burns, has been sold lot an undisclosed sum and is being readied for a $5 million facelift.
New owner Darren Schaeffer, 38, is planning to install more windows, new skylights and a retractable roof to allow outdoor dinning--and cigar smoking--on the club's second floor. Schaeffer also intends to install a 50-seat screening room, a business center and a new gym for women.
He has also lured David Fouts, chef at Wolf gang Puck's Granita restaurant in Malibu, to helm Virgo, a ...