Night entertainment kicks up again this weekend at the historic inn, once owned by Neil Young.
By Paul Sisolak / Special to The Malibu Times
Following what could be the establishment’s most tumultuous period in recent years, the Malibu Inn reopened this week with one of its most radical visual and culinary makeovers in the popular bar and restaurant’s 90-year history.
After remaining dark for nearly three months, following a year of part-time business at the local landmark, this weekend marks the first time the inn will operate as a late-night establishment. It’s a big victory for new owners and proprietors Alex and Steven Hakim, who fielded resistance from Malibu residents late last year over obtaining their liquor licensing.
The Hakim brothers, leading the project since their father, Kambiz Hakim, purchased the property in early 2009 for $5.3 million, decided to revamp the restaurant entirely, taking it back to its 1960s, Southern California, rock and roll roots, not far removed from the days when Neil Young ran the inn under the name of the Crazy Horse Saloon, while preserving the familiar surroundings Malibu residents have come to know.
“It’s always been known for music, food and a cool bar scene where people can go hang out,” Alex said. “We didn’t want to change it too much from the core fiber. There’s really a voice that’s been missing for the past two years where people can listen to cool music and get good food, and not pay an arm and a leg.”
Patrons who visit the new and improved inn may feel as though they’re visiting a new Malibu haunt that they’ve known for years. In a sense, they do. Alex and Steven Hakim said they worked with designer Andrew Alford to revive the interior’s already existent classic rock decor. Borrowing from no one decade in particular, vinyl LPs line the walls, an aural stamp of artists who’ve previously graced the inn’s stage: Eric Clapton, Tom Petty and, more recently, Kid Rock.
“A lot of people hold it dear to their hearts,” Steven said. “We didn’t want to change it too much and stay true to the local community.”
Other retro curios found at the revamped inn include local artist Haven Herrera’s restored murals alongside new paintings, and a 1966 Volkswagen Beetle converted into a fully functioning photo booth. The beachside roadhouse-stylings of the inn are a mixture of new and old, glossy and rustic; designer Alford seamlessly blended the fresh with the vintage.
Some brand new additions to the inn also include a VIP room for private functions, 15 new TVs, and an enhanced billiards room and outdoor patio.
The Hakims have re-imagined the inn’s menu, bringing on board “Top Chef” star Angelo Sosa and Executive Chef Aaron Ziegler. Though classic burger-and-fries West Coast American fare will still feature prominently, items like “smack & cheese,” tapenades, and local catches like Malibu sliders and coast mussels raise the bar in the inn’s kitchen. Brunch will also be served within the next few weeks, they said.
The brothers are also in the works to bring new up-and-coming and A-list entertainment to the inn.
The Malibu Inn’s original incarnation goes back to 1920, when it was located further west on Pacific Coast Highway as a hotspot for the biggest names in old Hollywood through the 1930s and 1940s. Sixty years ago it was moved eastward to its current beachfront location, across from the Malibu Pier. Singer/songwriter Young took over briefly in the 1970s, and the roots rock vibe stuck, which remains to this day.
But the last decade leaned toward a darker period for the inn, when Mitchell Stewart, who purchased it in 2002, died three years ago, leaving the inn’s future in a sort of limbo. When the Hakims took over the reins last November, they faced flak from community members who spoke against allowing the restaurant to serve liquor until 2 a.m., citing noise and safety concerns. The Malibu City Council sided in favor of the inn.
According to the Hakims, the inn will hold its new grand opening sometime in the first or second week of May.