"Very soon, the Top Hat restaurant, a Main Street landmark since 1930, will be taken down to make room for a new development, including condominiums and commercial space as part of the redevelopment plan for the City of Ventura.

Ventura will be losing a significant feature of its old time charm and hometown character. And for all those people who have known this building over the years, and enjoyed its unique character, it certainly will be sorely missed."

In an attempt to accurately document its present day existence and to honor its history, the artist C. L. Higgins is painting a series of 30 watercolor paintings.