End of an Era


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The Cominos Hotel was damaged beyond repair following 

the Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989.

In spite of numerous effots to preserve it, the hotel was demolished.


The Abbott House/Cominos Hotel was the gathering spot for the men who made Salinas the county seat, brought the railroad to town, created the California Rodeo and the men who made the Salinas Valley into the "Salad Bowl of the World." Indeed, this term was coined by one of the Cominos brothers. Their association with this magnificent hotel helped make the Cominos one of the most prominent Greek families in California. The Cominos Hotel was the largest non-agricultural employer in town for many years. Over 30 people lived on the property as staff.

The building gradually declined, and was acquired by the City of Salinas. Years of neglect by the city reduced it to a mere shadow of its former glory and they decided it had to be demolished. Preservation groups led by the Monterey County Historical Society fought back, and in fact won a round in court, but the Loma Prieta earthquake gave the city the excuse it needed. Demolition began just three days later. 


See Monterey Historical Society Website


The State : Effort to Save Historic Hotel

May 14, 1989 (Los Angelos Times)


The Monterey County Historical Society has sued the city of Salinas to block the demolition of the Hotel Cominos, which John Steinbeck visited and wrote about. The suit in Monterey County Superior Court said the city violated state environmental laws when it decided to raze the hotel, which was built in 1874 and originally named the Abbot House. The hotel was renovated, enlarged and renamed in 1917. Once one of the grandest hostelries on the Monterey peninsula, it was abandoned in 1980. The city last month decided to remove the crumbling hotel and replace it with a Steinbeck museum, offices and a parking lot. City officials said no work would begin until the suit is settled.


After the demolition the property was used as parking lot opposite the National Steinbeck Center for several years.

Later it was acquired by Taylor Farms where they constructed a new state-of the-art facility to be used as their corporate headquarters. They officially opened on August 18, 2015.

Taylor-Farms


Taylor Farms Corporate Headquarters, Salinas, California



Click the links below to see more on the 

Hotel Cominos


 Su   © KSOCA 2012