Whether you like your desserts shaped as rings or spheres, you and your sweet tooth might be disappointed if you were planning to indulge in West Hollywood.
Two local pastry-makers, Plops Cakeballs and Glazed Donut Bistro, have posted signs in their windows announcing that they are closed.
For Glazed, the closure comes just seven months after the opening of the “artisan” donut shop that billed its wares as “donuts for grownups” on Santa Monica Boulevard near Palm. At first, it was overwhelmed with customers eager to try sweet and savory doughnuts. But the shop left a sour taste in the mouths of some—especially former employees.
Some former employees reached out to WEHOville.com with a host of complaints, including: that the “artisan” (aka “handmade”) donuts sometimes were mass-produced frozen donuts defrosted in the back of the shop before being served to unsuspecting customers; that the temperature in the kitchen was too high and that food wasn’t stored safely; and that owner Harry Ben-Zvi made homophobic remarks. One ex-employee said he filed complaints with agencies such as Cal-OSHA and the LA County Department of Public Health. The health department confirmed that a complaint 
was filed on June 6, with an inspection following on June 10 that did not find evidence of any of the alleged violations. In an e-mail response to questions from WEHOville.com, Ben-Zvi previously denied the allegations of homophobic behavior.
As for Plops, the purveyor of round mini-cakes opened on Santa Monica Boulevard near Huntley in the fall of 2013. In August, owner Joon Paik told CBS Los Angeles that “a product like ours or some new innovative products need to come to the market to take [the] place” of cupcakes, which were losing ground as the dessert du jour.
On Tuesday, Plops posted a Facebook status and a Tweet that said: “Thanks for supporting us over the last year. It is with regret, that we say farewell at the current time. Best Wishes from all at Plops Cake Balls.”
Taco Bell would be great……………
@zachcranela: Taco Bell, KFC… Anything fast!? Shame on you (he’s says with love). We can do better than that. In and Out maybe, at least they have meaning to the Southland and they serve quality products. But even that’s pushing it (though I predict business would be strong). Where’s a good diner – on the SaMo strip? Since we’ve lost Silver Spoon and the Mining Co. Or since the strip is getting overwhelmed in eateries how about something other than food? Taco Bell, KFC, McD’s, etc. No. No. No. No. No. Just my two cents.
A Taco Bell or a KFC or a in and out or anything fast would be great at the koo koo roo space.
I too said they would fail. I had occasion to have a conversation with the owner and he was a real SMUCK! I mentioned to him there was another donut shop just down Santa Monica Blvd. [Tasty Donuts – Corner Santa Monica and Havenhurst] which has been in WeHo for 40+ years. He said they served “junk”. DUH! They have been in WeHo FOREVER, now in a wonderful new location. STILL the best value Sweets around, and their croissant sandwiches cannot be beat for value. He said his shop would “put them out of business!” Well OBVIOUSLY that did not… Read more »
I agree with Coby, the donuts were sub-par for what you paid. And Bleah nailed it, Plop? Eat this laxative cake pop.
The donuts at Glazed were not good at all. I tried variations on three visits and all of the donuts were just weird and not delicious in any way. Great concept – poor execution. I won’t miss them.
Plops failed because of its name. I mean, seriously?
if mrs. fields couldn’t make in in weho, no baked specialty item shop will. this isnt a city that indulges in calories. now if there were a gluten free, sugar free, flour free, fat free, nearly taste free, and calorically anorexic item for sale…..that might be a hit.
Replacements:
Glazed= MARCO’S (must bring the staff)
Plops= FAT SAL’S
KooRoo= LAS FUENTES (look it up)
I predicted that glazed wouldn’t last more than 6 months on the opening day. terribly over-priced, under-quality donuts. coffee was terrible. a small cup for $2 was about half the size as other places. Weho needs a real donut shop not a fancy place like that. there was a donut shop on the corner of smb and Fairfax with the best coffee on earth (farmers brothers) which is served in most country clubs. but the shop had to move across the street to make way for the latest over-built project. the west end of weho needs a real donut shop.… Read more »