The Vagabond Inn and Trio House may be demolished to open a new hotel
Saying goodbye to a USC staple
An application has been filed with the Los Angeles Department of City Planning to demolish both the 72-room Vagabond Inn and Trio House, the Thai restaurant that sits feet from the Inn.
The space will be used to build a seven-story hotel, just two blocks away from campus.
According to a Notice of Public Hearing, the new hotel plans to feature 275 guest rooms, 173 parking spots, and a restaurant/café. Currently, the only other hotel walking distance to campus is the Radisson.
The Vagabond Inn
Despite a hotel shortage in the direct vicinity of USC, Junior Alexandra Schwartz does not see a need to build the large “dual branded” hotel on Figueroa Street.
“The last thing this area needs is a hotel. There are so many hotels downtown that parents can stay at,” she said. “And plus, the prices at the new hotel are going to be really expensive when events are happening on campus. It just doesn’t make sense.”
Junior Clayton Schluter agrees. He said, “when my parents come to visit, they’d rather just stay downtown.”
Nonetheless, if the demolition does pass, both Schwartz and Schluter said they will be sad to see Trio House go.
“Trio House is a great place,” Schwartz said. “And we need more restaurants here, if anything.”
Trio House
Schluter has never eaten at Trio House, but he said, “it’ll be sad to replace a USC staple.”
Trio House is one of the few local restaurants left on Figueroa Street hidden in between dozens of fast food eateries and chain restaurants. The establishments on Figueroa Street are USC staples. Students frequent Panda Express after a trip to the 9-0, indulge in Spudnuts donuts, and wander into La Taquiza – one of LA’s best kept secrets. Any change to the mere one mile stretch of Figueroa causes uproar among students. Let’s not forget when Chano’s changed its name to El Heuro, which still has not caught on. Nonetheless, not all will miss the unique Thai spot.
“I’ve only ever gotten delivery from Trio House, and it was good,” sophomore Cecilia Crowe said. “But I won’t miss it.”
Instead, Crowe is more concerned with the repercussions the demolition will cause. “I live close by, and I think it’s going to be loud when I’m trying to study,” she said.
Schwartz coincided. “It’s just poor planning,” she said.
The city is holding a public hearing to discuss the application on Nov. 2 at 2:00pm in the Los Angeles City Hall.