"What have you done to the Ramona!?" someone dead from the 1920s might be saying about 3020 University Avenue.

The long-empty storefront at 3020 University Avenue in North Park may at last find a lessee. The building has been an eyesore for several years in the ever-growing, popular foodie district of North Park (in the vicinity of 30th and University).

Building interior

Edwin Lohr, president of the North Park Community Association, said the building site “definitely has been a blighted corner for years. To be honest, I think anything would be better than what was there.” But Lohr warned the rent amount could be a challenge. “If it is not a big money-maker, [it’s] hard to afford the rents,” he said.

The property recently changed ownership, as well as its commercial realtor. The graffiti tags are gone, and the exterior was spiffed up with a new paint job.

Nate Benedetto, principal with Next Wave Commercial, said, “We started marketing the space around the holidays, and we have had a fair amount of activity thus far. We are optimistic that we can bring a very exciting offering to the North Park community…. This could be the coolest restaurant in North Park if it is done right.”

Ramona Theater, c. 1920s

from cinematreasures.org

The “industrial feel” building has a 20-foot exposed ceiling, with about 3025 square feet of ground space and about 1200 square feet of mezzanine space. Asking price is $2.75 per square foot + NNN (which means “triple net lease”; the lessee pays all operating expenses). Tenant improvement allowance is “negotiable.”

The structure, along with Discount Cigarettes at 3018 University, was previously the Ramona Theater, a 500-plus-seat movie house with balcony built in 1926. In more recent years, it housed a discount clothing store.