In 2003, Casa de California become a reality with the purchase of the property in Calle del Carmen #1 in an emblematic area in Mexico City, Chimalistac neighborhood. The facilities are compose by a beautiful house of the late XIX century owned by publisher Ignacio Cumplido, two modern buildings of the XX century that serve as the residence of the architect Francisco Artigas and a multi-story office built by Banamex (Banco Nacional de México).

Casa de California is located in the south of Mexico City in the beautiful y vibrant Chimalistac neighborhood, with bookstores, coffee shops, and restaurants is the favorite spot for artists, writers and intellectuals and is very close to the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). The cobblestone streets, stone bridges, history, and ancient constructions make it a unique zone, for that reason in 2012 this neighborhood was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Mexico City .

Chimalistac comes from the náhuatl and means “Place of the White Shields”. Originally this place was occupied by the Huerta del Carmen of the Barefoot Carmelite Order, the main attraction is the stone bridges where the Magdalena River used to run through.