West Hollywood’s storied Palm restaurant not only is leaving the site at 9001 Santa Monica Blvd. at La Peer where Hollywood legends have gathered for 40 years, it actually is leaving West Hollywood.
The Hollywood Reporter reported today that Bruce Bozzi, executive vice president of the Palm Restaurant Group, confirmed the move. Bozzi, who declined to give the new location, told the Reporter that Palm’s lease is up and it will move somewhere in Beverly Hills by the end of this year.
9001 Santa Monica Blvd LLC, a unit of Goldstein Planting Investments, plans to build a five-story retail and residential complex on the site, which includes an adjacent Rolls Royce dealership and a parking lot. Goldstein Planting bought the property in 2011 for more than $8 million from SunCor Development Co. and Chinatrust Bank. In exchange for a payment of $1 million, the West Hollywood City Council in August granted the developer an extension on its development permit that gives it until July 2016 to start construction.
The so-called Palm Project will have 42 residential units (34 of which will be condominiums and eight of which will be apartments rented to moderate- and low-income people), 9,850 square feet of retail space, 9,800 square feet of restaurant space and 180 parking spaces in a two-level parking garage. The project site includes the Palm restaurant building as well as the adjacent parking lot and auto repair business.
When the project was first announced, a publicist for the 30-restaurant Palm chain insisted that the restaurant wasn’t leaving its current location. Palm’s walls are covered with cartoons of the celebrities from past and present who have dined there.
@stvrsnbrgr: if I wanted to be surrounded by tall buildings and traffic jams, I would live in downtown.
This topic is generating lots of heat, very little light. Weho isn’t Mayberry. We’re smack in the middle of Los freakin’ Angeles. If you don’t like tall buildings, or new buildings, or traffic… you’re in the wrong place. IMHO
OK Nimby, figures that you would take The Palm comment as an insult, it was intended as silly and humorous. Unfortunately your statements betray you. If you had the sophistication you alluded to you might have or still advance some credible and constructive thoughts. Although you state that WEHO needs more and better development, you fail to give any specific examples. For example, in terms of recent architecture and business venues, what would be your recommendations citywide? Also exactly where do you foresee more development and where?
Oh kids: I have travelled all over there. Love Europe. Lived in Europe for years. But West Hollywood needs more development and better development. We have a plethora of small businesses that don’t suit the current community’s needs.
And my darling Lynn, please keep the insults to yourself.
did you enjoy having McDonalds, Starbucks and Subway in Europe? or did you prefer the European chain stores? and did you see a need for more and better development in Europe, NIMBY? just curious…
@WFU Nimbys:: After reading your recent comments it seems that you favor a less than discriminating eye and lack experience beyond a narrow latitude. The reference to independently owned businesses is far enough off the mark to be laughable. I’m sure you won’t be getting any dinner invites to The Palm before or after they leave but perhaps you could take a trip to anywhere USA that retains some sense of tradition or to countless places in Europe to enrich your personal experience. Uniqueness and authenticity are generally considered to be desirable attributes in stores, restaurants, architecture and businesses of… Read more »
Nimby what are you smoking and why don’t you share?
I’m for the redevelopment was disappointed that The Palm won’t be coming back to the new structure. Very sad.
I hope a Panda Express and a Pinkberry replace the Palm.
More often than not, independently owned businesses provide substandard merchandise at higher prices. That’s why they don’t last. Chain stores aren’t evil. And if they bring shoppers and businesses to West Hollywood, I’m all for it.
We could stand to be a bit more like Irvine. I remember reading quite a few magazine stories ranking it the #1 most livable city in America.
Because West Hollywood needs more development and 5-plus storied complexes. WTF is this city turning into? Hooray for progress but the city planning is really off the rails lately. Who do they think is moving in over here, let alone paying beaucoup bucks to live there. Why is Weho turning into mini Las Vegas sans the slot machines?
steve, i was referring to the continuing influx of large and modern developments that will bring us chain stores instead of independently owned businesses. i’m not against all of them, but the balance is tipping.
@Rudolf: Why does the loss of an expensive chain restaurant turn us into Irvine? Just don’t get the connection.
Celebrities shop at Target too, does that mean it’s a cultural treasure?