The West Hollywood Planning Commission unanimously greenlit a change of use for The Wild at 8945 Santa Monica Boulevard from a restaurant to a full-fledged nightclub. The decision was finalized during a March 6 meeting. The venue will see the addition of live entertainment, a dance floor, and full alcohol service while continuing to operate as a restaurant in the daytime.
The Wild opened in November 2023. Since then, it has operated as a restaurant in a 1,147-square-foot space with a 185-square-foot outdoor patio fronting Santa Monica Boulevard. With the Planning Commission’s approval of a Development Permit and Conditional Use Permit, owner Bryan Franklin and applicant Louie Cano plan to turn the venue into a hybrid hotspot. “This is an existing restaurant; we’re merely making some changes to allow for entertainment,” Cano told commissioners, explaining the shift from a Type 47 (restaurant) to a Type 48 (public premises) license with the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC).
By day, The Wild will remain a casual eatery, serving food from 9:00 a.m. But come evening, it’ll shed its tables and chairs to reveal a 280-square-foot dance floor, a DJ booth, and two go-go dancer platforms. “After 8:00 p.m., we’ll remove the dining setup to allow for dancing,” Franklin said during the applicant’s presentation, describing the venue’s dual identity. Operating hours stretch daily until 2:00 a.m., with alcohol service ending at 1:30 a.m. to ensure a smooth wind-down.
Located in the Commercial, Community 1 (CC1) zone, The Wild sits amidst a bustling strip of bars and restaurants, just 240 feet from West Hollywood Park. Staff planner Laurie Yelton underscored its fit: “The proposed use is well-suited for this lively nightclub and restaurant-focused area along Santa Monica Boulevard.” The city’s General Plan backs this vibe, aiming to keep the west side a “regional destination for nightlife and entertainment,” per Goal LU-12.
The project sailed through with minimal pushback. A January 21 virtual neighborhood meeting drew one attendee who stayed silent, and staff received a single supportive letter plus a petition with signatures endorsing the change. “One member of the public joined but didn’t raise concerns,” Yelton noted. During the hearing, no public comments surfaced, leaving the floor clear for commissioners to deliberate.
Noise—a perennial WeHo concern—was an inevitable question. The venue’s layout helps: a 30-foot back-of-house area, including a kitchen, buffers residential properties to the north along Keith Avenue. “People who work in the kitchen can’t even hear the entertainment,” Franklin assured, referencing existing DJ and dance noise. Conditions of approval lock this down further: rear doors close after 10:00 p.m., outdoor amplified sound is banned, and the interior must be soundproofed to meet city standards.
Commissioners probed logistics too. Commissioner Lynn Hoopingarner flagged fireboxes on the patio—visible in photos but not plans. “They’re parallel with the planters, only out in cold weather,” Franklin clarified. She also questioned queuing, noting the resolution allows a double line while plans showed a single one. “We’d love to have a queue, let’s be honest,” Cano said, adding that security ensures a single line won’t clog the sidewalk during peak times like Pride weekend.
Support echoed across the dais. “The Wild is one of the most well-run operations on Santa Monica Boulevard,” said Commissioner Erick Matos, praising its community events like sober and disco nights. “This is going to breathe new life into the space and the community.” Commissioner Stacey Jones agreed, “Anytime we can jeuje up the Boystown strip, I’m here for that.” Even safety-conscious Commissioner Hoopingarner backed it, despite crowd concerns at the busy intersection: “I’m 100% behind anything that helps your business thrive.”
The vote was a rare 7-0, leading Commissioner Jones to marvel, “This never happens, by the way.” The decision is categorically exempt under CEQA for using existing facilities and carries conditions like a six-month review to tweak any disturbances. Appeals can be submitted by March 17, but with no opposition voiced, The Wild seems ready to roar.
They keep approving more bars and more bars = more tax dollars. Is it just me or are does it appear a lot more vacancies even for apartments lately? Are people fleeing a city going down?
Of course during the community meetings, only one resident voiced concerns. The neighborhood is tired of fighting these things when we know they’re going to be approved anyway. The sound has grown increasingly worse over the years and pleas to Code Compliance for help have gone unanswered. Quality of life for residents that live near the boulevard has gone down in recent years and the city couldn’t care less. The Wild was failing, and this is their last attempt at change things up and hope that their business starts to thrive. Interestingly enough Stache gave up its nightclub business model,… Read more »