Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

Storefront grand re-opening

Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

This post was written by Rosanne Catron, 2012 Office Director.

On Friday, August 3, community members, friends, and Mono Lake Committee staff and members gathered to celebrate the re-opening of the Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore storefront. The improvements, made possible in part by a generous bequest from longtime Committee member Grace de Laet, were three years in the making, with many decisions, large and small, to make along the way. Let’s take a look at the remodel process and some pictures of our new storefront.

Mono Lake Committee Staff Discuss Storefront Remodel
In July 2010, Mono Lake Committee staff met with architects Siegel & Strain to brainstorm ideas for the new storefront. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.

Storefront - 2010
The Mono Lake Committee storefront has gone through many iterations over the years; here it is in 2010 before the remodel began. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.
Storefront - 2011
In 2011, the entire storefront was blasted with walnut shells to remove the old stucco, and new stucco was applied. Illustrator Logan Parsons painted a new sign and the Mono Lake Committee logo above the door. Photo by Elin Ljung.
storefront - 2012
In March of 2012 Escoto Construction & Design began demolition on the storefront. Photo by Rose Catron.
back entrance
While the Information Center & Bookstore was still open during construction, visitors had to use the back entrance through Committee offices. Photo by Rose Catron.
Rocks and deck framing
May 2012 and the storefront remodel is chugging along! Here you can see the storefront after demolition, and the beginnings of the new deck. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.
Lake and steps
By late June 2012 we had blue concrete for the Mono Lake map and plaza style seating. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.

Finally, by August 3, 2012, the larger aspects of construction were complete. Here are some photos that provide a glimpse into the improved storefront:

Dave Dore and mountains
Craftsman David Dore stands next to his finished outline of the Eastern Sierra escarpment, as seen from the east shore of Mono Lake. The wooden mountains, encompassing Mt. Ritter to Dunderberg Peak, will eventually have small brass plaques labeling the major peaks. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.
View of pergola and mountains
A view looking south at the storefront: the new pergola, the mountains silhouette, and the steps leading up to the Information Center & Bookstore. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.
storefront - Feb 2012
And here is the same view in February 2012. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.
Grand Opening
Mono Lake Committee staff, members, friends, and community members celebrate the storefront grand re-opening. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.

Come on by and check out the improved storefront, with our new water bottle filling station, map of Mono Lake, greywater-fed planters, pergola, Jeffrey Pine benches, and much more. We are happy to answer any questions you might have about the project. Still in the works: some small mural elements, a Chamber of Commerce information board, and interpretive signs.

A huge thank you to architects Siegel and Strain, the whole team at Escoto Construction & Design, Regina Hirsch of Sierra Watershed Progressive, craftsman David Dore, scientific illustrator Logan Parsons, our neighbors who tolerated our mess and noise during construction, Bill and Tim Banta, and of course, the entire Mono Lake Committee team. Of the Committee staff, a special thank you goes to Bartshe Miller, who oversaw the project from start to finish.

3 Comments

  1. The refinished storefront looks positively wonderful. I hope it serves visitors for decades to come.

  3. Hi Terre – Instead of a ramp we went with a mechanical lift to allow access to the deck and the store. It’s located at the far south end of our property near Bodie Mike’s, and people are using it, which makes us really happy!