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The Copper Door Reflects New Face of Downtown Santa Ana
November 17 , 2010
Davin and Marta Gumm are hoping the namesake front doors on their new hip beer bar in Downtown Santa Ana are a metaphor for the future of their business.
“I like the copper on the door and bar top because it gets better and better with age,” said Davin Gumm. “It was patinaed from the day we opened.”
The Copper Door opened just two months ago but Gumm is planning to expand the popular night spot’s schedule to five days a week starting Jan. 1 and ultimately plans to install a kitchen in the 6,000-square- foot bar that will serve high-end pub grub.
“We’ve been getting some good crowds,” Gumm said,” because we’ve been doing different things every night with music and live entertainment and offering promotions.”
The Copper Doors serves 40 beers from all over the world, including several gourmet German and Belgian brews. It is located in the basement of the recently restored Pacific Building at the corner of 3rd and Broadway in downtown Santa Ana.
With the help of the City of Santa Ana’s façade Improvement Program, Gumm restored the 85-year-old two story building. A gastro pub is making plans to open on the ground floor, tenants are filling up offices on the second floor and The Copper Door, a former pool hall, is attracting crowds to the basement.
“This is just another way the City of Santa Ana is helping to stimulate business and revitalize the community,” said Michele Martinez, city councilwoman. “The façade rebate program encourages new investment, increases property values, facilitates exterior improvements and assists businesses that want to start, expand or relocate to the city.”
Not only have the Gumms breathed new life into historic building but have given residents and visitors alike another reason to check out the city’s thriving Artists Village, which includes major art venues such as the California State University Fullerton Grand Central Art Center, the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Santora Arts Building, Empire Arts Building, as well as a mix of smaller up-and-coming galleries and design studios.
“It’s been encouraging to see the new businesses and new energy that is coming to Downtown Santa Ana,” said Vince Sarmiento, Santa Ana city councilman. “It’s also been gratifying to see some of the city’s older, historic buildings being reused.”
In keeping with the restoration process, Gumm was a student of sustainability, using reclaimed and salvaged wood and materials whenever he could.
The Copper Door is located at 225-1/2 N. Broadways and is open 8 to 2 p.m. Thursday to Saturday. To find out what entertainment is available check out the bar’s Facebook page.
For more information about Santa Ana’s Downtown Façade Improvement Rebate Program call (714) 647-5360 or go to www.santa-ana.org/csa/redevelopmenthomepage.asp
