An Austin icon moved one step closer Tuesday evening to becoming one of the city's 450-plus historic landmarks.  The city's planning commission voted unanimously to make The Continental Club an historic landmark.

To qualify for landmark status, buildings have to be at least 50-years old.  The Continental Club opened in 1955, originally as a supper club.

"To me it's a very exciting case, because we have a lot of landmarks that are houses and things that most people don't have an intimate experience with, an intimate knowledge of the Continental Club is a place where everybody goes or everybody can go," says Steve Sadowksy, an historic preservation officer with the city.

Historic landmark means the Continental Club building will never be torn down or renovated without the city's permission.  It also means more publicity and a 20-percent reduction in property taxes according to Steve Wertheimer, the owner.

"It's not that big of a deal monetarily. It's more about seeing that plaque on the front of the building or people walking by and saying wow so this is a piece of history here, that's what I'm excited about," he said.

The Austin City Council is expected to approve the historic designation on August 21st.