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.
The Giant Eraser is never far away. Anything and everything that is not nailed down and triple landmarked will be a fragmented memory. So long West Hollywood as we knew you.
This was a heart felt written article, and I feel your pain and disappointment from the current development, and destruction of all the iconic landmarks that support the character of this great city West Hollywood. Alas, the sunset strip will have a similar vibe to the Las Vegas strip within the next few years, facing the nightmare of drunk Trump supporting tourists everywhere from the Midwest. Hence the migration of the LGBTQ Community migrating to San Diego, Palm Springs and DTLA over the last decade. I just heard the Whisky a Go Go is next to be sold and demolished!… Read more »
” have a similar vibe to the Las Vegas strip within the next few years, facing the nightmare of drunk Trump supporting tourists everywhere from the Midwest.”
As opposed to to perverted Child Groomers encouraging school kids to “Trans into the other sex or grow up to be a Drag Queen while supporting a China corrupted 300 year old Joe Biden who doesn’t what day it is. Who needs borders? Let the drugs, rapists and gang members come in, we’ll give them hotels.
Asking for an old friend with commonsense.
And what about Butterfields (restauarnt) just adjacent but below the Sunset Strip? This was one of the most charming and beautiful dining establishments not only in WeHo but LA, especially with their expansive patio. Unfortunately, the House of Blues was constructed next door which essentially killed them. They tried to survive by changing their cuisine to Mexican but to no avail. So very sad !
Butterfields! I loved that place-truly special.
I considered including Butterfield’s. I agree it was great with a magical ambiance. It was like descending the steps into a green wonderland – with killer onion soup.
Agree on Butterfield’s – I considered including it. Glad others loved it as much as I did!
If most of the business owners had any sense they would all leave this highly taxed, crime riddled environment. I moved my business and have not been busier or happier. Just my anecdotal experience and opinion.
It’s not the city as a whole that is to blame. It’s the City Council Members mismanaging funds (from bribery) into wasteful spending projects with secret pocket lining gaining access to back door deals that lead to corruption. The Tower Records building deal on the sunset strip is a perfect example of what I’m talking about. As is the Viper Room deal just a block away.
How about Tango Grill, the little Argentinian restaurant on Santa Monica between Larrabee & Palm? I used to love that place!
Loved Tango Grill. My husband and I bring it up at least once a year as well as Benvenuto
Add Dukes Coffee Shop and LeLe House to the list!
Dukes!
I ordered many a meal from Duke’s when I worked a couple of blocks away on Hilldale.They had a whole menu of egg dishes.
Greenblatt’s Deli & Fine Wine. The service tended to be bad and the atmosphere could be chaotic during peak hours. However, it had a unique character, nice selection of classic deli food, and a surprisingly good wine store. My deli takeout spot for years and an old school Hollywood vibe/people watching that was always fun.
Greenblatt’s was one of my first posts here! I lived in the building behind Greenblatt’s in the early 70s when I worked across Sunset at Schwab’s.
https://wehoonline.com/?s=greenblatt%27s
In the not too distant future it will be Sunset Plaza which everyone believes been landmarked. It has not.
That’s sad. I used to go there a lot when the Optique Boutique was open.
Video West, Spike, Thunder Roadhouse, Benvenuto, A Different Light, Hudson, Mark’s, Basix/Marix, La Fabula, Tiffany Theater and all those magazine stands from when we actually read magazines!
I’ve already done posts on the first two! My favorite newsstand was the one on Fairfax but I also made regular trips to Circus of Books to see what was new.
Benvenuto and Marix!!! Thank you! How about the Greenery, Cafe D’Etoile, Eat Well and All American Boy and The Sporting Club.
Oh man. I miss those. Seems like just yesterday. The losses are worse in that nothing as good has replaced any of them. No streaming service plays the movies Video West had. The “straighting” of West Hollywood, the “upscale” elitism, the lack of “fun”, all show that our City “leadership” has really missed the plot.
And of course, Tower Records.
I used to hit Tower every Tuesday to check out the new releases.
Agree wholeheartedly about HOB. Also greatly missed: Scandia, Le Dome, Cafe Med.
This article stirred up my memories,so here is another one.
There was a small stationery store called Remington Stationers,located near the current Traders Joe’s.It was ran by a black man,a very friendly guy.His place was my go-to place for stationery and other items.The fellow was easy to talk to and I would visit him regardless if I was shopping or not.
The shop closed around 2005 and whenever I walk by that location,I still think of that shop and that fellow. That personal touch is why I would go to his shop and not Staples.
The owner was very pleasant and accommodating with old world values and had some interesting merchandise.