Giant Artichoke restaurant shuts down; what will happen to the giant artichoke sculpture?
CASTROVILLE, Calif. —
A giant artichoke sculpture in Castroville is tied to the sale of a building, with a co-owner explaining that the sculpture is part of the property and cannot be sold separately.
The Giant Artichoke Restaurant closed Wednesday after 25 years under its current ownership. The building has been up for sale since April, but no one has stepped forward to buy it.
Salazar said the iconic landmark outside the restaurant has received an offer.
“Once I told him it was part of the building and that he’d have to buy the building, he just kinda joked that he might steal it. So if you see this Giant Artichoke in somebody’s backyard, just know he stole it,” co-owner Juan Salazar said.
Stealing the sculpture would be difficult, Salazar added, because “it’s full of cement and rebar, so you can’t just lift it out.”
The building remains for sale.