Places We’ve Loved and Lost

The recent closing of the legendary Terner’s Liquor was another reminder of how our city is changing from a small city filled with historic landmarks to just another collection of expensive hotels, chain restaurants and condos that most residents can’t afford. I suspect that those of us who have lived here for any length of time have had our favorite shops, clubs and other places that aren’t around anymore. Here are a few of mine from the last 50+ years and I’m sure our readers have some of their own. How about it, WeHoville-ians? What are your most memorable spots that are no longer with us?

Arrow Market

While WeHo has more than its share of large, modern chain grocery stores, the small neighborhood markets have fallen by the wayside. My favorite mom-and-pop style grocery was the Arrow Market, a friendly little store on Santa Monica that was open for several decades. In the 90s it was on the way to and from my office so Arrow was a convenient pit stop when I didn’t feel like walking down long aisles and standing in long lines at the Mayfair down the street, 

North Beach Leather

When I first moved to WeHo in 1971, I lived in the Park Sunset just east of La Cienega so I frequently walked past North Beach Leather, a pricey boutique that did custom outfits for rock stars and always had a window full of drool-worthy merchandise. I couldn’t afford any of it but I did get plenty of fashion ideas I could use in real life. Since I had just moved from Alabama and needed all the inspiration I could get.

The Sorcerer’s Shop

A tiny shop selling witchcraft supplies may seem out of place on Santa Monica but this establishment fit into the funky boho ambiance of early-70s West Hollywood. If you needed some incense to cover the smell of weed or ingredients to cast a spell, this was the place to go.

Ports of Call

This large showroom on Santa Monica at the bottom of Olive Drive was my go-to store for cool hippie-style decor for my first apartments. An early version of the Pier One Imports chain, Ports of Call was a fabulous source for both ideas and budget finds. I regularly took a walk down Olive to Ports of Call on my day off from Schwab’s, which was great exercise since the hill was so steep that I wouldn’t dare try it after I got older. 

Sammy’s BBQ

I suspect most city-dwellers have their favorite neighborhood Thai takeout/delivery joint and Sammy’s was mine. On the same block as the also-missed Irv’s Burgers, Sammy’s had the best Pad Thai I’ve ever had and was my first call when I got home from Cedars after knee surgery. If there’s one time you need good food delivered, it’s when you’re recuperating at home from surgery and spending most if your time with your leg elevated while icing your knee. I still haven’t found a replacement for Sammy’s cheap, tasty Thai food.

House of Blues

This wasn’t a small, neighborhood club but it was in my neighborhood and I patronized it regularly during its heyday. When I was a teen, the only time we got to see famous bands was when the Dick Clark tours came through two or three times a year. I never got to see the Beatles because they didn’t play my city so I was ready to hit the clubs and concerts when I moved to WeHo. In 1994, the House of Blues opened just a few blocks away from my place, giving me the chance to see some of my favorite acts like Johnny Rivers, Willie Nelson and Lucinda Williams. By this time, I had enough industry connections to get into most shows for free so having a club I could walk to instead of having to pay for parking was a dream come true. The dream didn’t last but dreams rarely do.