American Legion Post 519 renovating kitchen to better serve veterans
Timothy Foster
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — American Legion Post 519 Renovating Historic Kitchen to Better Serve Veterans
American Legion Post 519 in Palm Springs is undergoing a major kitchen renovation this summer as part of a broader effort to improve services for local veterans and preserve one of the city’s historic buildings.
The project, funded in part through the City of Palm Springs’ Measure J program and support from local historic preservation partners, will replace aging kitchen equipment with modern commercial appliances, install the post’s first commercial dishwasher, upgrade flooring and walls, improve food preparation space, and expand storage capacity.
Built in 1948, the American Legion building is designated as a Class One Historic Site in Palm Springs. The post has long served as a gathering place for veterans, offering affordable meals, live entertainment, and a place to connect with fellow service members.
According to post leaders, the renovation will allow the kitchen to operate more efficiently and eventually expand meal service. Their goal is to have the kitchen open seven days a week for lunch, compared to the limited service currently offered only a few days each week. The upgraded kitchen will also better support weddings, community events, and other rentals that help generate revenue for the nonprofit organization.
Although the kitchen is temporarily closed, post leaders say they are committed to making sure veterans continue to have access to food throughout the renovation. The post is partnering with local food vendors, bringing in food trucks, and exploring additional temporary dining options while construction continues.
One of those partners is Dad’s Burgers, owned by Coachella Valley resident Daniel Sandoval. Sandoval has been serving veterans at the post during the renovation after previously providing meals at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Desert Hot Springs. He says many veterans depend on the American Legion not only for meals but also for companionship, making it important to continue food service while the kitchen is unavailable.
Sandoval has operated Dad’s Burgers for about five years as a pop-up business throughout the Coachella Valley. His long-term goal is to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant. Community members can follow @dadsburgers760 on Instagram for weekly locations.
Veterans who regularly visit Post 519 say the Legion provides far more than a meal. For many, it is a place to spend time with friends, stay connected to the veteran community, and find support from others who share similar experiences.
The kitchen renovation is expected to take approximately six to eight weeks, although post officials acknowledge the timeline could change as crews continue work inside the nearly 80-year-old historic building.
Despite the construction, American Legion Post 519 will remain open throughout the renovation. Leaders encourage veterans and community members to continue visiting for events, live entertainment, and temporary food service while the kitchen improvements are completed.
Once finished, officials say the renovated kitchen will help the post serve more veterans, expand community programming, and preserve the historic facility for generations to come.