Redevelopment of Calabasas Inn put on hold




RIGHT  THIS WAY—Michael Dinovitz  and  his  father,  Larry Dinovitz, are the new owners of  the  Calabasas  Inn  near Calabasas  Lake.  They  had hoped to raze the facility and build senior housing, but will keep the special events venue in tact for now.

RIGHT THIS WAY—Michael Dinovitz and his father, Larry Dinovitz, are the new owners of the Calabasas Inn near Calabasas Lake. They had hoped to raze the facility and build senior housing, but will keep the special events venue in tact for now.

With plans for a new senior housing development on the property unable to move forward, the Calabasas Inn hopes to reopen by the end of the year as a revamped special events venue under new management.

The property was closed two years ago after developer Larry Dinovitz bought the 5.43-acre parcel at 23500 Park Sorrento Drive near Calabasas Lake and proposed building senior housing.

Dinovitz and his D2 Development company wanted to create a pedestrian-friendly senior housing project with connections to The Commons, Old Town and the Calabasas Tennis and Swim Club. He later altered his plans and proposed turning the former entertainment business and the land it sits on into an assisted living development.

According to city planner Glenn Michitsch, the new plans are still under review.

Although Dinovitz and a local group still own the inn, the Calabasas Country Club will operate the facility as a partnership. The club staff also handles the food and events at Founders Hall in the Calabasas Civic Center.

“Because of the financial climate, construction plans have been halted considerably,” said Dave Bartholomew, general manager of the Calabasas Country Club. “Nothing is going to happen along those lines for a while. We’ve been told we’ll have the better part of five years.”

Michitsch said the city approved the inn’s reopening in August. The venue had been operating in Calabasas for 40 years when it closed.

“We basically approved it to do what it was doing before it shut its doors: weddings, special events, bar mitzvahs—everything you can think of,” Michitsch said.

“We have the expertise in the food and beverage side and with events, and we’re just a mile down the road,” Bartholomew said.

Bartholomew said his crew is getting the building back in shape and has already revamped the banquet room. Workers are also gutting the kitchen and improving the backyard where weddings are held.

Bartholomew said he’d like to say the venue will be open by December for holiday parties, but that it’s too soon to tell.

The Country Club recently hired a new head chef, Tom O’Brien, who was in charge of culinary duties at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn. The Redondo Beach native has spent the last 20 years working as a chef in venues across the country.

“What I’m trying to do is be more trend aware,” O’Brien said. “I’d like to bring the Calabasas Inn, the Country Club and the Founders Hall all up to the latest, coolest stuff. I really want to do our best to bring back the luster of a really great venue but also bring it current with great presentations and great food.”


SERENE—A pastoral setting greets visitors to the Calabasas Inn.

SERENE—A pastoral setting greets visitors to the Calabasas Inn.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *