The Olympia Building

Looking past the two large trees on 144 Temple Street you can find the Olympia Building. The building is home to Vanity Restaurant, Bar and Nightclub and several other smaller operations. It is most identifiable by the five large archways of Renaissance Revivalist style, one operates as a door while the other house windows. Above the archways is a more standard brick finish with a flat roof.

Inside, you will find the wooden frame to be complimented by a wooden finish on tables, chairs, walls, and floors. You will also find small designs of the Renaissance Revivalist style on the walls. Vanity is well kept and received over a million dollars of investment and renovation to become a high-end club.

Before Vanity started in 2017, the Olympia Building was home to The Russian Lady, The Wicked Wolf, The Playwright Restaurant, and originally, the Hartford National Bank and Depository. Before this building was erected in 1973, it was home to the Paramount Theatre (originally the Olympia Theatre under different management) for 57 years. The site has successfully been a social spot on Temple street since 1913.

Olympia Theatre 1913**

Paramount Theatre 1930**

Hartford National Bank and Depository 1973

The Playwright Restaurant 2000

The Wicked Wolf 2010

The Russian Lady 2012

Vanity Restaurant 2017

**Different Building

The site at 144 Temple Street today has been a significant plot of land since A. Heaton Robertson decided to build his estate there. After his death in 1920, his estate was demolished and paved the way for the Olympia Theatre, which later became the Paramount Theatre under new management. After thriving on Temple Street (under a different address), the building was demolished, and the current building was erected in 1973.

This building was built for the Hartford National Bank and Depository in 1973. From 1913- 1970, the space was occupied by Olympia and Paramount theatres. This theatre was a staple of Temple Street prior to its demolition in 1970. Before, the site was the estate of A. Heaton Robertson, a New Haven judge and Connecticut State Senator. Most recently and most successfully (the Hartford Bank moved and has since closed), the building has been a successful restaurant and club. The success is attributed to its location in the Chapel Street District and location only one block from Yale College’s campus.

142-144 Temple Street was actually one of the last current buildings to be built on this part of Temple Street. The building really finalized the block as a true urban area, with almost no open space or vacant spots on the block. Being right across from the popular Omni Hotel and surrounded by chain restaurants allows 144 Temple Street to be the thriving restaurant and club it has become. Even before the building was erected as the Hartford National Bank, the space was used for the Olympia and Paramount Theatre, another popular social center.

Although the street view is partially blocked by two large trees, Vanity Restaurant resides in a three-story building on Temple Street. The building is primary brick and is most identifiable by its five large archways, one used as a door and the other four as windows. The archways are the small influence of Renaissance Revivalist style, while the rest of the building resembles Postmodern and Brutalist form. The inside of the building boasts its wooden frame, with wooden stairs, floor, walls, and tables. You can also find small dashes the Renaissance Revivalist theme continue inside as well as Corinthian columns near the dance floor.

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http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/13753#.

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February 2018. http://www.onlinebiographies.info/ct/robertson-ah.htm.

O’Leary, Mary. “Newest New Haven Night Club, restaurant described as ‘cutting edge’

destination.” New Haven Register. August, 2017. 26 February 2018.

https://www.nhregister.com/business/article/Newest-New-Haven-nightclub-restaurant-described-11951212.php.

Helms, Sam. “Atlas of New Haven 2011.” Sam Helms. 26 February 2018.

https://samghelms.github.io/new-haven-historical-maps/.

“National Register of Historic Places.” United States Department of the Interior National Park Service. 1982. 26 February 2018. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/54b7491f-3c0a-422b-ac3b-54b997c78fc2