Keystone Photo Service / USC Digital Archives []

A 1933 photo of the Fine Arts building shows the original Pig'n Whistle blade sign.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The Pig'n Whistle restaurant this afternoon moved one step closer to returning to the Fine Arts building space it inhabited from 1926 to 1952. A short hearing this afternoon produced no opposition to the building's application for a Conditional Use Permit, meaning that the use should be formally approved shortly.

The Hollywood eatery's historic namesake was an original tenant on the ground floor of the structure, located on 7th street between Figueroa and Flower.

Nearly three years have passed since word first broke that modern-day Pig'n Whistle owners Chris Breed and Alan Hajjar were looking to return to the building. A tentative deal fell apart at that point, but discussion resumed after the building was bought by attorneys Brian Kabatek and Mark Geragos in 2008.

"The history in that space has always intrigued me," Breed told blogdowntown in August. "I think it's my fate."

Pig'n Whistle was founded as a Downtown candy shop in 1908. The first location was right next door to City Hall, then on Broadway between 2nd and 3rd. The modern-day eatery offers a menu of bistro cuisine, focusing on American and British classics.