Beach Nation, the restaurant at Santa Monica Boulevard and Sweetzer Avenue, wants to rehabilitate the burger stand that was formerly home to WeHo’s burger joint Irv’s.
A public hearing on the proposal will take place at the city’s Historic Preservation Commission meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Plummer Park Community Center, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd. near Fuller.
Beach Nation is requesting a “Certificate of Appropriateness” from the commission for the project, which would allow it to enclose a portion of the rear covered patio, add a separate dry storage structure and build an outdoor dining counter integrating the burger stand with the Beach Nation restaurant. Beach Nation is also asking that a requirement to add another parking space be waived.
In its staff report, the city of West Hollywood recommends that the commission approve the project.
A certificate of appropriateness is needed because the burger stand was designated as a “local cultural resource” in 2005. In 2011, the commission voted to allow certain improvements to the burger stand, including repairing the roof, replacing a fence and replacing picnic table umbrellas.
“Also permitted was a tenant improvement that allowed the conversion of the vacant 998-square-foot detached auto repair structure located in the rear of the property into Beach Nation with outdoor dining and related site and landscaping improvements. The construction was completed in early 2014. Additionally, the approval included a waiver of all required 17 parking spaces for the new restaurant,” the staff report says.
The report concludes that the proposed work “will neither adversely affect the significant architectural features of the cultural resource nor adversely affect the character or historic, architectural, aesthetic interest, or value of the cultural resource and its site …
“Staff supports the waiver of one parking space as a rehabilitation incentive as this parking reduction will not be detrimental to the surrounding neighborhoods and because the proposed rehabilitation and site improvements to the former Irv’s Burger stand aim to achieve a complimentary and cohesive aesthetic for the entire site, while maintaining the original integrity of the resource. Overall, the proposed project will improve the aesthetic, architectural and historic integrity of the designated resource and the entire property.”
WEHOville.com contacted Beach Nation for comment, but a publicist representing the restaurant did not comment beyond confirming that Beach Nation is in the process of obtaining a liquor license.
Irv’s, which was evicted in October, reopened this year at 7998 Santa Monica Blvd. near North Laurel. It was forced to move when its landlord, Standard Oil Investment Management, raised its rent and demanded that it pay for repairs to the structure. Standard Oil also owns the adjacent lot, where Beach Nation is now located. The eviction sparked protests among many local residents. Beach Nation, designed by noted restaurant designer Thomas Schoos, opened in May.
Okay. Run the long time owners out of their historic location. Build a silly “spot” that has the food made elsewhere and the pleasure of sand in your teeth. That is not an historic spot. Add to this a cringe-ifying name and now they want to serve booze. This is basically just a sandbox writ large. No beach for miles, no water feature, no volleyball. A sand box. Winter is coming and believe it or not it can get chilly in West Hollywood. Few people picnic at the real beach – even here – in winter and at those beaches… Read more »
Get rid of popular old spot, open unpopular new spot, incorporate old spot into new spot (under new management) and add alcohol. Got it.
Edd
Chris Sanger, you are obviously a shut in, I feel bad for you. There is no connection between the accident, and your comments. You might want to move to Montana. Everyone needs to stop blaming this or that. As Common Sense said, if you are the pedestrian, you need to be the one paying attention. I am sure if the driver had been at fault, they would have been arrested. This was not a hit and run. Grow up people and take responsibility for yourselves..
RE: IRVS: I never understood the “Save Irv’s Burger Stand” craze — like for what purpose? The owners clearly had no idea how to properly run a business – and there is no way in hell I would ever touch a piece of food from that kitchen. RE: BEACH NATION: I love Beach Nation. How can you complain? They (brilliantly) took a dumpy, empty lot that was a total eye sore and transformed it into a neat little cafe that everyone can enjoy. Now it seems as though they are going to do the same thing the neighboring space —… Read more »
If the prior owners hadn’t been such nice people, everyone else would think of getting a tetanus shot before eating at that so-called “stand.” This dilapidated third world-like shanty, with its dry rot, sagging root, filthy exterior and windows open to the vermin, bird feces, dirt and car exhaust from the street, screams disease and sickness. I’ve never understood how a space that is outdoors could look more dark, dank and uninviting than the janitorial storage cabinet in the back room at a trashy old bar. The owners of Irv’s simply moved across the street – no harm, no foul… Read more »
And the “garage” they are waiting to be built is the robo-garage for City Hall? I can tell you one thing for sure…no one is going to pay the parking fee to have their car stacked to go here. I think this place is not only historically insignificant…but it’s an eyesore to the community. And adding alcohol to this tacky (cheap) venue is asking for trouble…let alone noise issues for the neighborhood. The owners have no desire to be a real business. They want the profit for the least amount of money. So out with Irv’s. They put up a… Read more »
They should be able to redo the old Irv’s place, IMO. And the should get that liquor license. At least beer and wine. I’ve been a few times and enjoy the atmosphere. It will be a GREAT place if you can go and get a glass of wine or a cocktail and sit outside, especially when the weather gets a little cooler. I’m all for it. Yes, redevelopment should be tempered to fit the nature of the community and the parcel size, etc., but it should continue. Annexing the “shanty” and turning it into a bar is a great idea… Read more »
They were always intending on serving booze. They had applied for their license before even opening. The parking waiver is due to the fact that the city is building a public parking garage directly across the street. Also, the neighborhood is very walkable already and there is no reason why a resident of our city cannot walk, ride a bike, or take a Lyft/Uber. Honestly, no reason to waste your time and money driving.
mike, you answered what was going to be my thought, …alcohol.
typical, the slow creep from coffee shop to bar to trouble.
I’ve been there several times. The staff is great. They have great food and I think they will succeed.
Beach Nation, a coffee house has now applied for a liquor licence. Who didn’t see that coming especially due to it’s lack of patronage currently?
While I believe Sonia, the former operator of the stand, let the place go and didn’t invest a dime in the place (shame on her), similar hamburger/hotdog stands were once part of the Cali Culture. It’s sad that these places are closing up little by little due to greed/over-development. Beach Nation was more or less forced to save this nugget of WeHo history; they didn’t want to do it. As an aside, I never see any patrons at Beach Nation. Whats up with that?