Buellton City Council takes legal step to demolish most of Pea Soup Andersen's building

By Michael Chaldu · Sat Aug 08 2026

Unanimous vote approves the lifting of iconic, but deserted, restaurant's historical landmark designation

By Mike Chaldu

michael@santaynezvalleystar

A noticeable roadside landmark that's been in Buellton for a century looks like it will soon be demolished after the City Council voted to remove the buildings historical designation at the Thursday, July 9, meeting (the council's only one of the month) and clearing the way to knock it down for a new project.

In the agenda's Item 11, Resolution No 26-22 – “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Buellton, California, Establishing Conditions for the Demolition of Buildings Located at 376 Avenue of Flags and Removing the Historical Landmark Designation from the Property Located at 376 Avenue of Flags in the City of Buellton," Buellton City Manager Scott Wolfe described the history and historical landmark designation of the building.

The restaurant was in operation until abruptly closing in 2024.

"Pea Soup Andersen's was designated as historical landmark, and was just shy of its 100th anniversary when it closed," Wolfe told the council. "It's a large part of where Buellton is now, it was a stopping place for people who were traveling on the 101."

However, Wolfe pointed out, the building has drawn a negative crowd.

"After closing 2024, it became attractive location for folks who shouldn’t be there," he said. "Mainly, people who break in to make YouTube videos, the homeless, people who come in and vandalize the place."

Wolfe said proposals to demolish the building have bee made, but under the historical landmark status “any proposed alteration, addition, or demolition, to the site or any structure thereon is (prior to the issuance of any entitlement, building permit, demolition permit, or grading permit which may alter the existing site or buildings) subject to City Council review of appropriate mitigation of loss to a historic resource through permanent acknowledgement and recognition of the site’s historical significance.”

There have been proposals to remove historical pieces from the building and store them before demolition, but Wolfe said less pieces of the buidling are remaining.

"A month ago, we visited to look for historically relevant things," the city manager recounted. "When we came back a month later, the items we identified were either destroyed or removed. The longer the building remains, the fewer aspects of historical significance will remain."

Wolfe then identified an even bigger problem with keeping the building up.

"There's a lot of dangerous parts of the building that can cause possible injury or death," he said. "Important from preservation, I'm looking at more immediate issue: I want to avoid catastrophe, injury, or death. The best way to accomplish is to demolish the building."

During council questions, Councilmember Hudson Hornick asked about a small part of the building, the one closest to the corner of Avenue of Flags and Highway 246, that Wolfe said was once the "Hotel Bueltmore" that was slated to remain.

"That part of the building will remain if we demolish the other parts," Wolfe said. "It will be smaller and much easier to maintain." However, Wolfe pointed out that building could still be demolished by the property owner for a new development.

Mayor David Silva asked about any items that were already stored away. Wolfe said after the property was bought by developer Ed St. George (who was present at the meeting), a number of pieces of the restaurant were collected and stored at an undisclosed location.

Councilmember John Sanchez asked Wolfe what the timeline would be if council passed the item and removed the historical landmark status. Wolfe said he had no timeline at the moment.

It was then that Sanchez admitted that he entered the building recently to check it out, saying in his defense, "the door was already kicked in." However, he said after seeing the condition of the building from the inside that, "we've got to do this as soon as possible.

After that, Hudson moved to approve the item and it passed 5-0.

The council began the meeting by honoring Ann McCarty, who recently retired as the executive director of the North County Rape Crisis and Child Protection Center.

After her praise from the council, McCarty stepped up to speak.

"I'm humbled in more ways than one," McCarty said. "My impending departure has been one whirlwind physically, mentally, and emotionally as I prepare to leave."

McCarty made sure to thank and praise former Lompoc Mayor Joyce Howerton as someone who has shaped her life.

"Joyce Howerton, I hope I can do as well as she did, I’ll never measure up to her," McCarty said. "I'm not quite ready to leave, but I know it’s time."

The Buellton City Council meeting scheduled on Thursday, July 23, was canceled. The City Council will meet next on Thursday, Aug. 10.